Hezbollah says it has launched 9 attacks on Israeli settlements since early Friday

ISTANBUL

Lebanese group Hezbollah on Friday said that it launched nine attacks using rockets and loitering drones, targeting six Israeli sites, two military barracks in northern Israel, and a gathering of Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon.

The announcement came in a series of statements released by Hezbollah.

The group said it launched rocket barrages at different times from dawn until midday Friday, targeting six settlements: Shlomi, Yiftah, Shomera, Kiryat Shmona, Ramot Naftali, and Hanita.

It said it also carried out two separate aerial attacks using “swarms of loitering drones” targeting the Ya’ara and Matat military barracks in northern Israel.

Hezbollah also said it targeted Israeli soldiers with rockets in Lebanon's southern town of Khiam.

Since Israel and the US launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, so far killing some 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, hostilities have escalated.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

Since March 2, the regional escalation expanded into Lebanon, with the Israeli army and Hezbollah frequently exchanging fire.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel