Hezbollah fired around 200 rockets and drones at Israel overnight, Israel’s military said, in a sharp escalation that shows the Iranian-backed Lebanese militia is still an effective fighting force after being battered by Israel in earlier fighting.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) late on Thursday said that it had struck Hezbollah infrastructure "across Lebanon. " "A short while ago the IDF completed several waves of strikes targeting Hezbollah

Tehran/Tel Aviv11:45 a.m. March 13 The attacks heightened fears that the war was expanding beyond Hezbollah’s traditional strongholds into parts of Beirut once considered comparatively safe. New strikes were also reported in Iran, Iraq and Israel.

In a remarkable statement Monday afternoon, Lebanon called for direct talks with Israel on “permanent arrangements for security and stability on our borders,” while accusing the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah of betraying the country.