Hezbollah hits back with rockets as it declares an ‘open-ended battle’ with Israel

Hezbollah fired over 100 rockets on Sunday across northern Israel, with some landing near the city of Haifa, as Israel launched hundreds of strikes on Lebanon. A Hezbollah leader declared an “open-ended battle” was under way as both sides appeared to be spiralling closer toward all-out war.

The overnight rocket barrage was in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon that have killed dozens, including a veteran Hezbollah commander, and an unprecedented attack targeting the group’s communications devices. Air raid sirens across northern Israel sent hundreds of thousands of people scrambling into shelters.

One struck near a residential building in Kiryat Bialik, a city near Haifa, wounding at least three people and setting buildings and cars ablaze. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said four people were wounded.

Avi Vazana raced to a shelter with his wife and nine-month-old baby before he heard the rocket hitting. Then he went back outside to see if anyone was hurt.