Tensions Escalate as Rockets Fired from Lebanon Into Israel; US Deploys Military Vessels to Region

Thirty rockets were launched from Lebanon into Israel by Hezbollah, prompting the US to deploy a guided missile submarine and other vessels to the Middle East. Tensions have spiked following the death of a senior Hamas commander and a significant Iranian military buildup against Israel.

Days after Israel confirmed the death of a senior Hamas commander, around 30 projectiles were launched from Lebanon into northern Israel overnight, The Times of Israel reported. Lebanon-based Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it targeted a military base, according to the Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen site.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported that several rockets landed in open areas, resulting in no casualties. In response, Israeli forces targeted the launch sites from where the rockets were fired.

Following the attack, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the Middle East amid escalating regional tensions. According to the Pentagon, the rare public announcement revealed movements of the submarine. Austin also communicated with Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, informing him that the US would send two ships and a submarine to bolster Israeli defenses, reiterating America's commitment to Israel's security.

The Pentagon further stated that Austin instructed the Abraham Lincoln strike group to accelerate its deployment to the region. During the conversation, Gallant conveyed information suggesting that Iranian military preparations indicated a significant attack against Israel was imminent, a source told the Jerusalem Post.

Last week, Israel confirmed the death of Nael Sakhl, a senior Hamas commander who orchestrated attacks in Judea and Samaria, in a July 24 airstrike. Tensions in the Middle East have heightened further after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the death of Ismail Haniyeh in a Tehran attack on July 31, where he was attending the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The IRGC's statement detailed that Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed when their residence was struck in Tehran. Haniyeh, who was usually based in Qatar, was in the Iranian capital for the inauguration event. (ANI)