Chart Shows Huge Increase in Hezbollah Rockets Targeting Israel

There has been a significant escalation in Hezbollah rocket attacks targeting Israel since October 7, with a total of 13,931 rocket alerts, averaging out at 47 per day.

The latest data complied by online tracker Rocket Alert from IDF Home Front Command figures shows a sharp increase in rockets fired from Southern Lebanon targeting Israel while the number fired from Gaza has dropped in the same time period. Rocket Alert gets its data from the Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command's API, according to the site's FAQ section.

Newsweek has reached out to the IDF via email for comment.

The graph below displays rocket alerts targeting Israel from two primary sources: Hamas (Gaza) and Hezbollah (Southern Lebanon). The y-axis represents the number of rocket alerts, while the x-axis shows the date range over which these alerts were recorded.

Newsweek has reached out to a representative for Hezbollah via email for comment.

The most noticeable aspect of the graph is the dominance of rocket alerts from Hezbollah (represented in yellow). Hezbollah's rocket alerts are significantly higher in frequency and intensity compared to those from Hamas (represented in green).

The data shows a significant spark on July 4, where there were 223 rocket alerts from Hezbollah.

Newsweek spoke with Joe Truzman, a Senior Research analyst for The Foundation for Defense of Democracies and an editor at the Long War Journal. Truzman explained that "Hezbollah has not deviated significantly from the strategy it started with on October 8 when it began firing on Israel."

He also stated that, "Hezbollah's goal is to keep the Israeli military off balance to give Hamas and its allies a chance at surviving the war in Gaza."

Truzman told Newsweek that Hezbollah is being measured and limiting their attacks. He noted that, "They have not fired out hundreds of rockets on major cities because they don't want a large-scale war to break out."

He stated that Hezbollah has employed an "alternative" which has been to "fire rockets, mortars, anti-tank-guided missiles, and other weapons in a staggered manner towards communities and Israeli military positions along the border."

Although less frequent and intense, there are consistent rocket alerts from Hamas. The green bars show that Hamas is continuously involved in launching rockets, though at a much lower scale compared to Hezbollah.

Occasional minor peaks are visible in Hamas' data, indicating moments of increased activity which may correspond to specific incidents or retaliatory strikes.

Truzman stated that, "The intermittent rocket fire is due to Hamas and its allies having a limited stockpile of rockets and mortars to attack Israeli targets."

He added that, "Stocks are dwindling, Palestinian terrorist groups do not know when this war is going to end, and they must conserve what they have remaining."

The most targeted communities since October 7 include Netiv HaAssara with 230 alerts, Ashkelon Southern Industrial Zone with 220 alerts, Kiryat Shmona with 206 alerts, and Sderot, Ibim, Nir Am with 205 alerts. Those communities are all close to Gaza.

Other significantly targeted communities are Ashkelon - South (181 alerts), Kissufim (179 alerts), Nachal Oz (161 alerts), Zikim (149 alerts), Ashkelon - North (129 alerts), and Nir Am Shooting Range (119 alerts).

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