Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations (U.N.) said on Sunday that Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has fired more than 8,000 rockets towards Israel.
“Last night, hundreds of thousands of Israelis slept in bomb shelters, as Hezbollah, a terrorist organization, which holds Lebanon captive, fired upon them,” Danny Danon said at a U.N. meeting. “Since October 8th, over 8,000 rockets have been fired at our people, over 70,000 have been forced to flee their homes, becoming refugees in their own land.”
Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire recently, with more than 30 being killed in an airstrike by Israel aimed at Hezbollah in Beirut, a Lebanese health official said Saturday.
Health Minister Firass Abiad said in a news conference that the strike resulted in 31 deaths, including seven women and three children. A minimum of 68 people were also injured, and 15 were still recovering in the hospital, according to Abiad.
The strike occurred Friday and killed the head of Hezbollah’s operations unit and the commander of the elite special forces unit, the Radwan Force, per the Israeli military. The Israel Defense Forces also said that other senior Radwan commanders were killed.
The Israelis’ Friday strike followed Hezbollah launching about 140 rockets toward Israel, but most of them were downed via Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, according to the Israeli military.
“Let me be clear, we are a peaceful nation. We do not seek war, nor do we desire it,” Danon said at the U.N. meeting. “However, we will not stand by as our people are attacked.”
The Hill has reached out to the Lebanese Ministry of Information.