Israeli strikes continue on Lebanon after Hezbollah fires missile at Tel Aviv

Smoke rises from Israeli airstrikes in the southern village of Kfar Rouman, seen from Marjayoun, south Lebanon, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Hezbollah said it had fired a ballistic missile at the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Wednesday, with Israel launching more air strikes on Lebanon after its military intercepted the unprecedented launch.

It is the first time Hezbollah has claimed a ballistic missile strike since its nearly year-long battle with Israel began after its Palestinian ally Hamas carried out its Oct. 7 attack.

Israel conducted more air strikes on areas around Lebanon on Wednesday, after raids earlier this week killed at least 558 people in the deadliest day of violence since the 1975-1990 civil war.

The Lebanese health ministry said Wednesday's strikes killed 15 people, including in mountain areas outside Hezbollah's traditional strongholds.

According to Lebanese officials, hundreds of thousands of civilians have fled their homes in southern and eastern Lebanon, both strongholds of Hezbollah, to escape the violence between the Iran-backed militants and Israel.

Nour Hamad, a 22-year-old student in the Lebanese city of Baalbek, described living "in a state of terror" all week.

"We spent four or five days without sleep, not knowing if we will wake up in the morning," she said.

"The sound of the bombardment is very frightening, everyone's afraid. The children are afraid, and the grown-ups are afraid too."

In Tel Aviv, sirens sounded following Hezbollah's unprecedented missile launch, which the Israeli military intercepted.

Longtime foes Hezbollah and Israel have been locked in near-daily exchanges of fire since Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The attack...