Hezbollah says fired ballistic missile targeting Mossad headquarters near Tel Aviv

Hezbollah said on Wednesday it had fired a ballistic missile targeting Israeli spy agency Mossad's headquarters near Tel Aviv, saying that recent attacks on the militant group had been planned there.

It is the first time the group has claimed a ballistic missile strike since its nearly year-long battle with Israel began after Hamas carried out its October 7 attack.

The Israeli military said it was the "first time ever" a missile fired by Hezbollah had reached the Tel Aviv area before being intercepted by air defences.

"The Islamic Resistance launched a 'Qader 1' ballistic missile at 6.30 am on Wednesday, 25-9-2024, targeting the Mossad headquarters in the outskirts of Tel Aviv," Hezbollah said in a statement.

"This headquarters is responsible for the assassination of leaders and the explosion of pagers and wireless devices," it added, referring to attacks last week that killed scores in Lebanon including a top commander.

It also said the strike was carried out in support of the people of Gaza and "in defence of Lebanon and its people".

Military analyst Riad Kahwaji said it was the first time Hezbollah had fired ballistic missiles at Israel, adding that they were "Iranian-produced".

"They're all variants of the Scuds," he said, adding that the missiles have a range of "not more than 300km".

The Lebanese health ministry said Israeli strikes killed at least 558 people on Monday — the deadliest day of violence in the country since its 1975-90 civil war.