Hezbollah says it launched 38 attacks on Israeli sites, troops in last 24 hours

Lebanese group says it targeted 7 Israeli settlements, 16 gatherings of soldiers

Hezbollah said Friday that it carried out 38 attacks in the last 24 hours on Israeli settlements, forces, vehicles and military sites.

The Lebanese group said the operations came “in defense of Lebanon and its people” amid Israel’s assault on the country since March 2.

The attacks raised the number of Hezbollah’s operations since March 2 to 1,416, according to an Anadolu tally.

Hezbollah said it targeted seven settlements in northern Israel, including Kiryat Shmona seven times, Metula three times and Nahariya two times, in addition to Hula, Ma'ayan Baruch, Kfar Yuval and Yir'on.

The group also said it struck 16 gatherings of Israeli soldiers and vehicles, including 10 inside northern Israel, adjacent to Lebanon, in the settlements of Malkia, Margaliot, Dishon Shema and Avivim twice.

In addition, six gatherings of Israeli soldiers were targeted in southern Lebanon in the towns of Bayadah, Ainata, Qantara and Maroun al-Ras, it said.

There has been no word from Israeli authorities about whether Hezbollah's attacks resulted in casualties.

The attacks come as part of cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah, as Israel has expanded operations in Lebanon since March 2.

The region has been on alert since the US and Israel launched an air offensive Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure, while disrupting global markets and aviation.

*Writing by Rasa Evrensel in Istanbul