For First Time, Hezbollah Fires Ballistic Missile at Tel Aviv

Jerusalem, 25 September, 2024 (TPS) -- Residents of Tel Aviv scrambled to bomb shelters on Wednesday morning when Hezbollah fired a ballistic missile at the city. The launch marked the first time the Iran-backed terror group has directly fired at Tel Aviv.

The Israel Defense Force said its Arrow air defense system intercepted the surface-to-surface missile.

Hezbollah confirmed firing the missile, which triggered warning sirens in several coastal communities including Netanya.

The Magen David Adom emergency response organization said it received no phone calls at its hotline and reported no casualties.  Israel’s Home Front Command said there would be no change in instructions for residents of the metropolitan area, and schools opened as usual.

Air Force fighter squadrons conducted hundreds of sorties on Tuesday, deploying around 2,000 munitions aimed at approximately 1,500 Hezbollah-related targets across southern and deep Lebanon.

Residents of northern Israel were forced to evacuate their homes when Hezbollah began launching rockets and drones in October. The terror group has launched more than 9,000 rockets and drones, killing 26 civilians and 22 soldiers on the Israeli side.

Hezbollah leaders have said they will continue the attacks to prevent Israelis from returning to their homes, which Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah reiterated in a speech on Thursday night.

Israeli officials have been calling for Hezbollah to be disarmed and removed from southern Lebanon in compliance with UN Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War.