The Israeli army said it had attacked Hezbollah targets in various parts of Lebanon in defense of a possible large-scale attack on it.
Israel says it has used about 100 aircraft to target 40 such launch sites in southern Lebanon.
It said it had ‘destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers aimed at targeting northern and central Israel’.
Hizbollah said that it fired more than 300 rockets towards Israel in the first phase of the operation in retaliation for the killing of one of its commanders.
He said that his action has been completed for now. Lebanon’s health ministry said three people were killed.
The United States has expressed support for Israel’s defensive measures.
A retaliatory attack
“The IDF is attacking terrorist targets to eliminate those risks for self-defense,” said IDF spokesman Daniel Hegari.
Israel says it has warned Lebanese civilians to leave Iran-backed Shia Muslim group Hezbollah.
Soon after, Hezbollah said it had launched a large-scale drone strike in Israel in retaliation for the killing of the group’s senior military commander the previous month.
Early Sunday morning, warning sirens went off in northern Israel, signaling the arrival of rockets.
A 48-hour state of emergency has been declared in Israel.
The airport in Tel Aviv has been closed for some time but has resumed operation.
The United States has reiterated its support for Israel.
Hezbollah said it fired 320 rockets targeting military targets north of Israel.
He called it a ‘first stage’ attack on Israel.
Hezbollah confirmed the death of one of its fighters in Khiyam, south Lebanon.
The group did not disclose the circumstances of the man’s death. But Lebanon’s health ministry said an Israeli attack in the city hit a car and killed one person.
Hezbollah said the man was killed while fulfilling its national and jihadist obligations in defense of Lebanon and the south.
Lebanon’s ministry said three people were killed in the Israeli attack.
Hezbollah also noted that an attack on Israel planned for today was “completed and successful.”
The IDF said in a statement that Hezbollah had “fired more than 150 rockets from Lebanon into Israeli territory.”
He said the ‘Iron Dome’ missile defense system was also used to thwart the trio.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he is calling an emergency meeting of the Security Cabinet.
Netanyahu’s office said Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yoav Galant was “managing” the situation at the IDF military camp in Tel Aviv.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said his country does not want a ‘full-scale war’ in the region.
On the social network X, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said it was taking steps to “protect its citizens and geography” from the “group of devils” led by Iran.
It is said that Israel will move forward by paying attention to the developments that are developing in it.
Speaking at the National Security Council of Ministers meeting in Tel Aviv, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that they have adopted a policy of hurting anyone who hurts them.
He said that as soon as it became known that Hezbollah was preparing to attack Israel, the military actively worked to eliminate the risk.
Saying that the IDF has worked extensively to thwart the threats, he said that thousands of rockets targeting the north of the country have been destroyed and that the army is operating with high strength both in defense and attack.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah said in a statement that the drone strike on Israel was revenge for Fuad Shukar’s ‘martyrdom’.
A senior military commander of the Shia group was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Lebanese capital Beirut in July.
Tensions have been high between Israel and the Lebanese-based militant group since the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip began last year. Like Hamas, Hezbollah is supported by Iran.
