JERUSALEM

Over 1,023 attacks have targeted facilities in northern Israel since last Oct. 8 amid cross-border clashes with Hezbollah, according to official Israeli figures on Tuesday.

Figures released by the Defense Ministry showed that Hezbollah carried out 1,023 attacks using missiles and drones against civilian and public buildings and infrastructure, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

It said nearly one-quarter of the reported damage was caused by Israeli military operations, without specifying the nature of these operations or whether they were in response to Hezbollah attacks.

According to the ministry, five settlements have been affected in northern Israel by the Hezbollah attacks, including Kiryat Shmona, Manara, Metula, Shlomi, and Arab al-Aramshe.

“The damage was not only caused by Hezbollah fire but also by the prolonged presence of the Israeli forces in the area,” said Giora Zaltz, head of the Upper Galilee Regional Council.

Tensions have soared along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv pressed ahead with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 37,900 people since Oct. 7 last year.

The Lebanese group has linked the cessation of its attacks on Israel to the end of Tel Aviv’s onslaught on Gaza.

In mid-June, the Israeli army said it had approved plans for an offensive in Lebanon against Hezbollah amid fears of a full-blown war between the two sides.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala​​​​​​​