Hezbollah says it's fighting a "battle without limits" against Israel. Here's what to know

 The most intense exchanges of fire since the October 7 attacks have been traded between Israel and Hezbollah in recent weeks.

The Iranian-backed militant group fired scores of rockets and missiles overnight into Israel, striking deeper than they have done in recent attacks, as the group’s second-in-command declared that “a battle without limits” is now underway.

Hezbollah said the launches were in retaliation for an Israeli strike on southern Beirut that targeted several Hezbollah commanders, killing at least 45 people.

Here’s what to know about what else is happening in the region:

• Israel preparing for “next steps:” The Israeli military is “prepared for the next steps” in its fight against Hezbollah and is planning to take them in “the next few days,” Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said Sunday.
• Netanyahu mulls Northern Gaza plan: The Israeli prime minister is considering a plan to force all Palestinian civilians out of northern Gaza, including Gaza City, in order to lay siege to Hamas and force the release of hostages.
• US de-escalation warning: US officials are continuing to urge Israel to de-escalate, amid rising tensions in the north, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Sunday. President Joe Biden told reporters Sunday that “We’re going to do everything we can to keep a wider war from breaking out.”
• Al-Jazeera office raid: The Israeli military said it enforced an order to close Al Jazeera’s offices in the occupied West Bank after an intelligence assessment concluded the premises was being used to “support terrorist activities.” Photos taken by CNN showed iron doors over the entrance to the building.
• Hezbollah commander’s funeral: The funeral took place on Sunday for one of Hezbollah’s most senior figures, Ibrahim Aqil. Aqil was one of 16 Hezbollah commanders and fighters killed in an Israeli missile strike on Friday.
• University closed in Lebanon: The Lebanese University announced on Sunday that its campuses in three cities will be closed on Monday, citing security concerns.