An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) airstrike in southern Beirut resulted in the death of 16 senior Hezbollah commanders and operatives who were allegedly orchestrating plans for a ground invasion in northern Israel. The high-ranking leaders, including Ibrahim Aqil and Ahmed Wahbi, were part of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force and were killed during a meeting inside a high-rise building in the Dahiya area. Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned Iran and its terror proxies, accusing them of plotting a brutal attack similar to the one on Oct. 7. The IDF spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, revealed that Aqil and his cohorts were behind Hezbollah's plan to invade the Galilee region, as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah surged.

Following the IDF airstrike, which resulted in a total of 37 casualties, Hezbollah retaliated by launching over 100 rockets into northern Israel. One of the rockets struck a residential building in Kiryat Bialik, injuring at least three individuals and prompting widespread panic as residents sought shelter. In response, Israel conducted its own rocket barrage, causing three fatalities and injuring four near the border, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensified after a series of attacks, attributed to Israel, targeted electronic devices used by Hezbollah members. These attacks were purportedly carried out to pressure Hezbollah into de-escalation. While the US supports Israel's right to self-defense, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby stressed the importance of pursuing a diplomatic solution to prevent further escalation. Kirby emphasized the need to avoid exacerbating tensions in the region and reiterated ongoing efforts to defuse the situation since the conflict escalated on Oct. 8.