Hezbollah goes ballistic

ATTACK: MILITANT GROUP SAYS IT FIRED MISSILE AT TEL AVIV

- Beirut

Hezbollah said it had fired a ballistic missile at the Israeli city of Tel Aviv yesterday, with Israel launching more airstrikes 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 7 October attack.

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

According to Lebanese officials, hundreds of thousands of civilians had 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 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.