Hezbollah said Wednesday it had fired a ballistic missile targeting Israeli spy agency Mossad's headquarters near Tel Aviv as its fighters prepare for a possible ground war with the IDF in Lebanon. 

It is the first time the group has claimed a ballistic missile strike since its nearly year-long battle with Israel began after Hamas carried out its October 7 attack.

'The Islamic Resistance launched a 'Qader 1' ballistic missile at 6:30 am (0330 GMT) on Wednesday, targeting the Mossad headquarters in the outskirts of Tel Aviv,' Hezbollah said in a statement.

'This headquarters is responsible for the assassination of leaders and the explosion of pagers and wireless devices,' it added, referring to attacks last week that killed scores in Lebanon, including a top commander.

The Iranian-made Qader is a medium-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile with multiple types and payloads.

It can carry an explosive payload of up to 800kg (1,760 pounds), according to the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Iranian officials have described the liquid-fuelled missile as having a range of 2,000km (1,240 miles).

Israel said its air defences had shot down a Hezbollah missile after sirens sounded in Tel Aviv. No casualties were reported. 

Lt Col Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, said the missile had a 'heavy warhead' but declined to elaborate or confirm it was the type described by Hezbollah. 

The ballistic missile launch comes hours after Israel said it had killed Ibrahim Qubaisi - another top Hezbollah commander and director of the group's missile and rocket unit - in a strike on Beirut on Tuesday.