In the early hours of Sunday, air raid sirens blared across several occupied cities, most notably Haifa and as far as the occupied Golan Heights, signaling a wide-scale attack launched by Hezbollah. According to its statement, the group targeted an Israeli airbase and sites in the Upper Galilee with four waves of rocket fire, launching dozens of missiles.
Since last week, Israel has been on high alert, anticipating Hezbollah’s response to the breach of engagement rules after the explosion of communication devices and Friday’s airstrike targeting leaders of the elite Radwan Unit, Hezbollah’s most prominent force.
As international warnings about the risk of a full-scale war intensify, Hezbollah’s retaliation frames a new dimension to the conflict, opening doors to multiple possibilities, depending on developments in the coming hours or days.
The Expanding Circle of Fire
Sunday’s attack marked a significant escalation by Hezbollah, with rocket strikes on northern occupied territories and the occupied Syrian Golan. Dozens of missiles were launched in four waves over the span of a few hours, with some targeting the Ramat David airbase.
Hezbollah stated that the attack was a preliminary response to the detonation of communication devices last Tuesday and Wednesday in Lebanon.
In consecutive statements, the group said, “The Resistance targeted the Ramat David airbase southeast of Haifa with dozens of Fadi 1 and Fadi 2 missiles twice in a few hours, in response to the recent Israeli aggressions in Lebanon.”
In a third statement, Hezbollah added: “The Islamic Resistance bombarded the Rafael military industrial complex, which specializes in electronic equipment, located in the Zevulun area north of Haifa, with dozens of Fadi 1, Fadi 2, and Katyusha rockets.”
On the other hand, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that their air defenses intercepted most of the 10 rockets launched from Lebanon toward northern Israel.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that three Israelis were injured after rockets landed in the town of Kiryat Bialik in northern occupied territories.
The IDF’s Home Front Command expanded the emergency zone to include all areas from Haifa to the Lebanese border after Hezbollah’s latest missile strikes.
Israel’s Channel 14 noted that the range of Hezbollah’s rocket barrage put hundreds of thousands of residents in the target zone.
In occupied Palestine, power outages hit the Afula area, while fires broke out near Nazareth. Footage showed settlers fleeing to shelters following the rocket strikes from Lebanon toward northern occupied Palestine.
Political writer and researcher Mohammad Al-Khafaji remarked, “What occurred early Sunday is the beginning of Hezbollah’s response to the recent assassinations, especially since the strikes reached Haifa and beyond, fulfilling Hassan Nasrallah’s earlier threats.”
In an interview with Arabi21, Al-Khafaji added that, although the response was measured, Hezbollah will likely issue a more significant retaliation after suffering heavy losses in recent days. He noted that Hezbollah’s expansion of its target zone to include Haifa signals the failure of Netanyahu’s plan to repatriate northern settlers, potentially triggering a new wave of displacement.
Al-Khafaji also suggested that the scope of the conflict might extend to other fronts, such as Iraq and Yemen, particularly after Qais Khazali, leader of the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq movement, expressed full support for Hezbollah.
Fadi 1 and 2 Missiles
In its statement, Hezbollah announced the use of Fadi 1 and Fadi 2 missiles in the attack on the airbase east of Haifa.
Media outlets close to Hezbollah reported that the missiles used in the attack were Khaybar M220 with a range of 80 km and M302, which has a range of 105 km. These missiles were deployed for the first time during this conflict.
Hezbollah named the missiles “Fadi” after Fadi Hassan Al-Tawil, who was assassinated by Israel in 1987. Fadi was the brother of Wissam Hassan Al-Tawil, a prominent Hezbollah leader who passed away in January.
Sources in the field indicated that “the missiles were launched from one of Imad’s facilities, which remain unaffected by Israel’s airstrikes.”
The Khaybar-1 missile is an unguided artillery rocket developed and manufactured in Syria. Reports suggest it is heavily based on the Chinese Wei Shi1 system.
The Khaybar-1 has a range of 100 kilometers and carries a 150-kilogram payload. The missiles are typically equipped with large warheads designed for anti-personnel use.
The missile is 6.3 meters long, has a body diameter of 0.302 meters, and weighs approximately 750 kilograms at launch. Its launcher consists of two layers, each with three launch tubes.
Hezbollah first used the Khaybar-1 missile on July 28, 2006.
Regarding the Israeli airstrike, Al-Khafaji noted that the targeting of Radwan Unit commanders was unprecedented, especially since the unit represents Hezbollah’s elite forces, founded by the legendary military and security figure Imad Mughniyeh, whom Qassem Soleimani described as the second most significant loss after Ayatollah Khomeini.
Al-Khafaji emphasized that while the strike was surprising and the largest in Hezbollah’s history, Lebanon’s resistance has previously endured bloody battles, meaning the attacks do not incite panic compared to Israel.
Ramat David Airbase
The Ramat David airbase, targeted by Hezbollah’s missiles, is one of Israel’s most important air force bases in occupied Palestine. Hezbollah had previously published detailed footage of the base in a video released by its “Hudhud” drone a few months ago.
Established by the British in 1942 during the Mandate era, the base is Israel’s largest in the northern region and one of three primary airbases in occupied territories. Its strategic location near Israel’s frontlines with Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank makes it critical for Israeli military operations.
Ramat David participated in all of Israel’s wars, including the 1967 and 1973 wars, the 1982 invasion of Lebanon, the 2006 July War, and every war on Gaza.
The airbase is situated in the Jezreel Valley, also known as the “Zer’in Plain,” in the heart of northern Israel, forming a geographical triangle between southeast Haifa, Jenin, and Tiberias, near the Green Line separating the West Bank from 1948-occupied Palestine.
The base houses an advanced air defense system, notably the American Patriot MIM-104 system, which Israel has adapted locally under the name “Yaholom.” This system is highly effective at intercepting aircraft and ballistic missiles.
Omens of a Full-Scale War
Given Hezbollah’s unusual response, it seems unlikely that the situation will de-escalate. Netanyahu has been clear about his intent to escalate the conflict and expand the war in Lebanon.
Israel’s Channel 12 quoted security sources stating, “Israel is prepared to go all the way; there is no other option to return residents to the north.”
The channel added, “Israel and Hezbollah are approaching the brink of war, and the security establishment is preparing for a strong retaliation,” noting a complete closure of the Tiberias shoreline due to the escalating security situation.
The American news outlet Axios reported that Hezbollah fired medium-range missiles toward southern Haifa, further expanding the scope of its attacks.
The website quoted U.S. officials warning that the situation could quickly spiral out of control, potentially leading to full-scale war.
Before the attack, the U.S. State Department urged its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately while commercial flights were still available.
The department warned that if the situation in Lebanon worsened, commercial flights would no longer be an option.
However, Al-Khafaji does not foresee the region descending into full-scale war, attributing this to Hezbollah’s preference for a war of attrition rather than an open confrontation. Wars of attrition have a lesser impact on Hezbollah while causing greater concern for Israel, affecting both civilians and military personnel alike.
In his interview with Arabi21, Al-Khafaji explained that “Israel is unlikely to sustain the costs of a prolonged war of attrition with any front of the Resistance Axis. Israel prefers a swift operation, as seen last week, followed by a short conflict in the south—but this is not likely to happen.”
Al-Khafaji concluded that if Netanyahu seeks a full-scale war, he will need the U.S., which is striving to calm the situation, especially with the upcoming presidential elections.
