Hezbollah announced that it conducted a significant rocket and drone offensive targeting multiple Israeli military bases amid rising tensions of a potential war between the Lebanese militant group and Israel.

A Hezbollah insider informed Al Jazeera Arabic on Thursday that this was the largest strike by the Iran-supported group since hostilities began between both parties on October 8.

The attack, which focused on northern Israel, was said to be retaliation for the killing of senior commander Taleb Abdullah – also known as Abu Taleb – during an Israeli air assault in Jouaiya, southern Lebanon, earlier this week.

The same source mentioned that the "comprehensive attack" also aimed at creating a deterring effect following Abdullah's death.

Hezbollah reportedly used 150 rockets and 30 suicide drones to target 15 Israeli locations, including areas in the Golan Heights.

Reports from Israeli media indicated that Hezbollah's rockets injured at least two individuals and caused 15 fires.

The Israeli military stated via X that many launches were intercepted but some resulted in fires.

Hezbollah’s official statement described the operation as “supporting the steadfast Palestinian people and their brave and honorable resistance in Gaza,” and as part of their response to the killing executed by the Zionist enemy in Jouaiya.

According to Hezbollah, one of the attacked Israeli units is responsible for orchestrating assassinations.

On Wednesday, Hezbollah fired a salvo of 200 rockets at Israel.

Since the death of Abdullah along with three other fighters late Tuesday, rocket alerts have been sounding almost continuously in northern Israel.

While Hezbollah does not disclose specifics about its military hierarchy, Abdullah is only the second fighter from the group eulogized as a "commander" in recent months, after Wissam al-Tawil, who was killed in an Israeli operation in January.

Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad paid respects to Abdullah on Wednesday, praising his role in resisting Israel.

Hezbollah has been targeting military installations in northern Israel since the Gaza conflict began, which it describes as a "support front" to aid Palestinian armed factions.

Israel has responded by bombing southern Lebanese villages and targeting Hezbollah positions. Although the conflict involves daily exchanges of fire, it remains mostly confined to border regions.

Thousands of residents from south Lebanon and northern Israel have fled to avoid the violence.

Last month, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called the Lebanese front with Israel a historically critical one.

“This battle matters for Palestine, but it also impacts the future of Lebanon and its water and oil resources,” said Nasrallah. “This front is a support one that forms part of the broader battle deciding the fate of Palestine, Lebanon, and the region,” he mentioned.

With Iranian support, Hezbollah has strengthened over the years. The group has seen its influence grow, culminating in the withdrawal of Israeli forces from south Lebanon after nearly two decades of occupation.

In 2006, Israel initiated a significant assault to disarm Hezbollah following a lethal cross-border attack by the group against Israeli soldiers. The conflict concluded without substantial changes to the status quo. Since then, Hezbollah’s rocket arsenal and regional influence have both expanded.

Earlier in the month, Hezbollah’s deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem told Al Jazeera that the group is “prepared” for war if Israel escalates its attacks.

“Any Israeli increase in war efforts on Lebanon will meet with devastation, destruction, and displacement within Israel,” he stated. “If Israel seeks an all-out war, we are ready for it.”

Israeli officials have vowed to push Hezbollah fighters away from their borders by any necessary means, including force.

“Israel will forcefully respond to all Hezbollah aggressions,” asserted Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer on Thursday. “Through diplomacy or other methods, Israel will restore security on its northern frontline.”

A conflict with Hezbollah, known for its advanced military strategies, including guided rockets and precision drones, could be more taxing for Israel than the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Reporting from Beirut, Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr noted that Hezbollah has intensified attacks to not only avenge their commander’s death but also to strengthen Hamas’s negotiating stance in the ongoing ceasefire talks and to deter Israel from launching a major operation in Lebanon.

“This also serves as a deterrence strategy for Hezbollah,” Khodr explained.

“Unquestionably, this marks a risky escalation in the ongoing conflict,” she said, referencing Israel’s pledge to retaliate against recent strikes.