\n<\/p>\n
The previously sporadic fighting escalated on 8 October 2023 – the day after the unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas gunmen from Gaza – when Hezbollah fired at Israeli positions, in solidarity with the Palestinians.<\/p>\n
Since then, the group has launched more than 8,000 rockets at northern Israel and Israeli positions on the Golan Heights, fired anti-tank missiles at armoured vehicles, and attacked military targets with explosive drones.<\/p>\n
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have retaliated, using air strikes and tank and artillery fire against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.<\/p>\n
Lebanon’s health ministry says at least 589 people have been killed since October 2023. Most of them were Hezbollah fighters, but at least 137 were civilians, according to the ministry.<\/p>\n
In Israel, authorities say at least 25 civilians and 21 soldiers have been killed as a direct result of attacks.<\/p>\n
Almost 200,000 people have also been displaced on both sides of the border.<\/p>\n
Despite the fighting, observers say that up till now both sides have aimed to contain hostilities without crossing the line into full-scale war. But there are fears that the situation could spiral out of control.<\/p>\n
Those fears soared after the killing of 12 children in a rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on 27 July<\/a>. Israel said Hezbollah carried out the attack, but the group denied involvement.<\/p>\n On 30 July, the IDF announced that it had killed senior Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr<\/a> in an air strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs.<\/p>\n