****

Rocket attacks from Lebanon struck northern Israel on Thursday, leaving seven people dead, including four foreign workers. These grave incidents represent the deadliest attacks since Israel’s invasion earlier this month. The violence occurred while senior U.S. diplomats were touring the region to broker cease-fires in Lebanon and Gaza, in a bid to mitigate ongoing conflicts fueled by Iranian-backed factions in the Middle East.

Hezbollah, a militant group in Lebanon, has been consistent in launching rockets, drones, and missiles into Israel daily. These assaults commenced following Hamas's October 7, 2023 terrorist attack from the Gaza Strip, which sparked the current war. Both Hezbollah and Hamas share an ideological alliance and are considered Iranian proxy groups, designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S., Israel, and numerous other countries.

In response, Israel carried out airstrikes targeting Hezbollah's weapons storage sites near Qusair in western Syria. Syrian reports indicated that at least five people were killed. In recent weeks, the Israeli Defense Forces have frequently bombed border crossings between Lebanon and Syria, alleging them to be arms-smuggling routes.

The conflict escalated last month when Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon targeted and killed Hezbollah's top leader, Hassan Nasrallah, along with key deputies. Israeli forces then entered Lebanon at the start of October, resulting in the deaths of nearly two dozen Israeli soldiers. Lebanese health authorities reported approximately 2,000 fatalities in Lebanon, caused by the ongoing airstrikes.

On Thursday, the initial rocket attack in the Metula region killed five individuals, a mix of foreign workers whose nationalities remain undisclosed. Metula, Israel's northernmost town, has faced severe damage due to its proximity to the Lebanese border and had been largely evacuated since October 2023.

A subsequent attack near Haifa resulted in the deaths of a 30-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman, with Israeli emergency medical services confirming the casualties. The barrage of roughly 25 rockets from Lebanon targeted an olive grove in the area.

Hezbollah's newly appointed leader, Sheikh Naim Qassem, vowed to continue fighting against Israel until terms agreeable to the group are offered. He emphasized Hezbollah's readiness for an extended conflict, despite setbacks involving explosive devices targeting their communications gear.

The escalating violence has led the Israeli military to warn residents to evacuate various areas of southern Lebanon. Lebanese sources reported the deaths of eight more people from these airstrikes, contributing to an unsettling death toll.

The prolonged conflict has claimed over 2,800 lives and injured nearly 13,000 people across Lebanon, displacing 1.2 million residents. Hezbollah’s rocket attacks have killed at least 68 individuals in Israel, half of whom were soldiers, and prompted the evacuation of around 60,000 Israelis from border regions.

Efforts for a resolution continue as U.S. officials, including Brett McGurk, Amos Hochstein, and CIA Director Bill Burns, engage in talks with regional leaders. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed gratitude for international mediation but maintains that Israel's security measures must prevail over any agreements.

Proposals for cease-fires, such as a two-month cessation of hostilities with the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, reflect the complex dynamics of maintaining peace. Similarly, suggestions for a four-week cease-fire in Gaza, with the release of hostages by Hamas, indicate ongoing negotiations, though long-term solutions remain elusive.