Despite the US saying it was "unacceptable", Israel was determined to push Hamas to the "corner", Hezbollah fired 80 rockets in retaliation.

The situation in the Middle East remains tense with Israel's continued offensive in the Gaza Strip in an attempt to destroy Hamas, while Hezbollah retaliates against Tel Aviv with dozens of rocket launches.

Image of the Iron Dome air defense system firing an interceptor missile at a rocket launched by Hezbollah towards the Meron mountain area. (Source: Al Mayadeen)

AFP news agency quoted US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller as saying that on July 15, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told two senior Israeli officials, Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, about the "unacceptably high" civilian casualties caused by Israel's recent bombing of the Gaza Strip.

Recently, the Israeli military has carried out several attacks that have caused many casualties, including on a refugee camp and several United Nations (UN)-run schools where many civilians are taking refuge.

According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Israel has bombed five UN-sponsored schools in Gaza in the past 10 days.

Rescuers in Gaza said three Israeli air strikes in an hour on July 16 killed more than 40 Palestinians. On July 13, Israel also bombed a designated safe zone in the Mediterranean strip, killing more than 90 Palestinians.

Despite the terrible casualties and criticism from the US, on July 16, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would continue to increase pressure on Hamas to eliminate top commanders and to return all hostages.

Meanwhile, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Hezbollah fired about 80 rockets into the northern region of the country that same evening. Hezbollah is an Islamic movement operating in Lebanon.

According to the IDF, about 20-30 of the rockets were fired from southern Lebanon toward the Meron mountain area in northern Israel. Israel's Iron Dome system intercepted 15 rockets, the rest fell in open areas and some caused fires.

Currently, Israel has not announced the number of casualties.

According to Hezbollah, the force fired a large number of missiles towards Israel in response to the killing of three Syrian children in a previous Israeli attack.

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