A Hezbollah official said the group’s rocket and drone attack against Israel was in retaliation for a top commander’s killing last month and was delayed by “political considerations”, chief among them the ongoing talks on a ceasefire and captive-prisoner exchange in Gaza, Al Jazeera reports.

The official, in written comments shared with media outlets, said the group had “worked” to make sure its response to the killing of Fuad Shukr on July 30 would not trigger a full-scale conflict.