The situation in the Middle East has taken a concerning turn as Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group have engaged in a major military exchange over the past 24 hours.

9News Nigeria reports that Israel has launched strikes in Lebanon and Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets in major escalation in the Middle East.

Israel launched a wave of heavy airstrikes across southern Lebanon early Sunday, targeting what it said were Hezbollah rocket launchers and other military sites. This came after Israel assessed that Hezbollah was planning a large-scale rocket and missile attack against northern Israel.

In response, Hezbollah fired over 320 rockets and drones into northern Israel, targeting military sites and infrastructure. Hezbollah claimed the attacks were in retaliation for Israel’s killing of one of the group’s top commanders last month.

The exchange of fire has raised fears of a broader regional conflict erupting. Israel has declared a 48-hour state of emergency in the north, giving the military special powers, while Lebanon’s prime minister has called an emergency cabinet meeting to address the situation.

Both sides have sought to downplay the risk of an all-out war, but the scale of the attacks is the most serious escalation since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Diplomatic efforts are underway to try to de-escalate the situation and prevent further violence.

The situation remains highly volatile, with the potential to draw in other regional actors like Iran, Hamas, and the United States. All sides must exercise maximum restraint to avoid a wider conflagration that could devastate the region.