On Sunday, the Israeli military attacked dozens of “terrorist targets” in Lebanon with about 100 fighter jets, as the Iran-backed group Hezbollah prepared for a major offensive. In response, Hezbollah fired more than 320 Katyusha rockets from Lebanon towards Israeli territory. Claiming responsibility for the barrage of missiles and explosive-laden drones, Hezbollah said it launched the attack in response to the killing of its military commander Fuad Shukr.
According to a Reuters report, the Lebanon-based group said it attacked a designated “special military target as well as Israel’s Iron Dome platform and other sites.” It also claimed that the “first phase” of its attacks was completely successful.
Israel declares emergency for 48 hours
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant declared a state of emergency for the next 48 hours, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chaired a high-level meeting to address the escalating situation in the north.
According to the Times of Israel report, Netanyahu said during the meeting, “We will make every effort to protect our country, to bring the residents of the north back safely to their homes. Whoever harms us, we will harm them.”
The Israeli military said its warplanes “struck and destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rocket launcher barrels, which were aimed at immediate fire toward northern and central Israel.” It added, “More than 40 launch sites in Lebanon were hit during the strikes.”
Also read: Israel-Hezbollah Conflict: Hezbollah fired hundreds of rockets on Israel, sirens started ringing, see
Biden keeps an eye on growing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah
White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savet said that as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalate, US President Joe Biden is “closely monitoring developments in Israel and Lebanon.”
Savet said he remained connected with his national security team throughout the evening. At his direction, senior US officials are in constant communication with their Israeli counterparts. We will continue to support Israel’s right to defend itself and we will continue to work for regional stability.
After the IDF launched the strikes, Defense Secretary Gallant spoke to his US counterpart Lloyd Austin. Gallant said, “We have carried out strikes in Lebanon to eliminate the threat against Israeli civilians. We are closely monitoring developments in Beirut and look forward to using all the means at our disposal to protect our citizens.”
Israel claims self-defense
The IDF said they detected Hezbollah was preparing to launch “missiles and rockets” towards Israeli territory. In response to the threats, Israel fired 40 air-to-surface missiles against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagri said, “In a self-defense action to address these threats, the IDF is striking terrorist targets in Lebanon from which Hezbollah was planning to launch attacks against Israeli civilians.”
People living in areas of South Lebanon from where Hezbollah operates were warned about the attacks and were asked to move out. The IDF said in an official statement, “Fighter aircraft are now striking Hezbollah positions that pose an immediate threat to the Israeli home front.”
Also read: Hezbollah’s massive attack on Israel, fired 320 drones, Netanyahu said – If you provoke us, we will not spare you
On the other hand, Hezbollah rejected Israel’s description of its attacks as “preemptive”, calling them “baseless claims” that “contradict the facts on the ground.”
Lebanese media reported that a man was killed in Khiam when his car was hit by an Israeli airstrike. Meanwhile, a woman was injured by shrapnel in the coastal city of Acre amid Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel. According to Israeli media reports, the woman has been admitted to Bnai Zion Hospital in Haifa for treatment. In the wake of the attacks, the Israel Airports Authority said it had temporarily suspended operations at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)