2024-08-25 05:59:40
Lebanese Hezbollah attacked Israel on Sunday with hundreds of rockets and drones in retaliation for the killing of a top commander. The Iran-aligned Shiite militia announced earlier today that the “first phase” of its response to the assassination of its commander Fuad Shukr last month had been completed. She warned that a complete answer would take “some time.”
According to Hezbollah’s own statement, Hezbollah previously attacked 11 Israeli military installations, fired more than 320 rockets, and launched drones into northern Israel. No injuries were initially reported, according to Israeli emergency services.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel’s cabinet met early in the morning to prepare a response. Defense Minister Yove Galant warned Hezbollah. He stressed that Israel will take all necessary measures to defend itself.
Israeli warplanes recently struck targets in Lebanon. The military received indications of an impending attack. It was discovered that Hezbollah “was preparing to fire rockets and artillery shells into Israeli territory”. The military warned in a statement that Hezbollah’s actions could lead to further escalation in the region. “We have conducted precision strikes in Lebanon to deter imminent threats to Israeli citizens,” Defense Secretary Galante said. “We are closely monitoring developments in Beirut and are committed to using all tools at our disposal to protect our citizens.”
According to the military, approximately 100 fighter jets participated in the Israeli attack on Lebanon. Thousands of launchers belonging to the Shiite militia Hezbollah were attacked and destroyed, Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a post. Most of them targeted northern Israel, but some targeted the center. Among them, Israel’s coastal metropolis Tel Aviv is located in the center of the country.
Alarms were sounded in northern Israel due to attacks from Lebanon. Explosions were also heard in several areas after the Iron Dome air defense system fired rockets from southern Lebanon. Israel’s emergency services said they were on high alert across the country. The military issued a civil defense directive. Gatherings are restricted, but residents can go to their workplaces as long as they can quickly reach a bomb shelter.
Army spokesman Daniel Hagari said flights to and from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport had been suspended, but air traffic should resume as planned from 7 a.m. local time (6 a.m. Central European Daylight Time).
The Minister of Defense declares a state of emergency. The foreign ministry said it was not seeking war against Lebanon but would take action based on developments.
US President Joe Biden is closely monitoring the current escalation between Israel and Lebanon, according to the White House. The spokesman said he had been in contact with the national security team on Saturday evening (local time). Under Biden’s order, senior U.S. government officials are in constant contact with their Israeli counterparts. “We will continue to support Israel’s right to self-defense and will continue to advocate for stability in the region,” White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savitt said.
On July 30, Israel attacked Hezbollah commander Shukr in Beirut. He is said to be responsible for the shelling of the Golan Heights a few days ago, which killed twelve people.
Lebanon’s Hamas-aligned Hezbollah militia has been shelling targets in neighboring northern Israel almost daily since the Gaza war between Israel and Islamist Hamas broke out more than a decade ago. In turn, Israeli forces frequently attack targets in neighboring countries.
The United States, Egypt and Qatar, which are mediating the Gaza war, hope that reaching an agreement on the Gaza ceasefire negotiations will also prevent the conflict with Hezbollah and Iran from escalating and triggering a war in the Middle East. Discussions on the matter are scheduled to continue in Cairo on Sunday.
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