The aerial campaign is an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese group since the start of its offensive on the Gaza Strip, in which Israel has killed more than 42,600 people, most of them women and children, since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas last October.

An Israeli airstrike on Wednesday destroyed the municipal headquarters in Nabatieh, a southern Lebanese town, killing Mayor Ahmed Kahil and five others. The group was meeting to coordinate aid efforts for those impacted by the ongoing conflict when the strike occurred. This marks a significant escalation in Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah.