BEIRUT, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Following a joint U.S.-Israeli attack against Iran on Feb. 28 that killed Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, among others, Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shiite group in Lebanon, fired rockets and drones toward Israel, citing retaliation for Khamenei's killing.
Israel subsequently launched what it described as an "offensive military campaign" against Hezbollah, including heavy airstrikes targeting Beirut's southern suburbs and areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as border ground incursions.
As a matter of fact, Israel has continued to carry out occasional strikes in Lebanon before the latest regional escalation and despite a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah in effect since Nov. 27, 2024. Israel repeatedly claimed that the strikes were aimed at eliminating Hezbollah "threats."
