Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed faction backed by Iran, struck Israel on the 2nd (local time) in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
According to AFP and others, Hezbollah said it launched rockets and drones toward Israel overnight in retaliation for the "martyrdom" of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In a statement, Hezbollah said it "pounded with missiles and drones in retaliation for Khamenei's pure blood, and to defend Lebanon and its people while responding to Israel's repeated attacks."
The Israeli military also said it immediately launched a counterattack, carrying out airstrikes against Hezbollah across Lebanon. Multiple explosions were heard in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, Reuters reported.
In a statement the same day, the Israeli military said it "began striking targets of the Hezbollah terrorist organization across Lebanon in response to Hezbollah's shelling aimed at Israel."