Jerusalem. Israel carried out massive airstrikes in Lebanon early Sunday morning in a preemptive operation against the Islamist group Hezbollah, opening the largest exchange of fire on that border in two decades, as shortly after, the Lebanese organization supported by Iran responded to the offensive by launching more than 320 Katyusha rockets against 11 military bases in Israel, and reported a first phase that concluded with total success.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said Hezbollah attempted to fire on central Israel but the attack was thwarted by simultaneous strikes by 100 fighter jets.
The IDF identified Hezbollah preparing to launch an offensive against Israel earlier this morning and struck terror targets and launch sites in Lebanon in anticipation, military spokesman Daniel Hagari said early on Thursday, The Jerusalem Post reported. The Israeli air force struck 40 targets, Israeli website YNet News reported, citing reports from Lebanon.
Lebanese television Al Mayadeen reported on an intense Israeli air attack on southern Lebanon that lasted more than 20 minutes.
Tel Aviv attacked forested areas in the towns of Kounin, Beit Yahoun, Haddatha, Rashaf and Tiri, Al Jazeera reported.
Hezbollah said the operation was aimed at a qualitative Israeli military target to be announced later, as well as “several enemy sites and headquarters and Iron Dome anti-missile platforms.”
The attacks came as Egypt hosts a new round of negotiations aimed at ending Israel’s 11-month-old war with Hamas. Hezbollah has said it will stop fighting if there is a ceasefire.
In the United States, White House spokesman Sean Savett said President Joe Biden was closely monitoring events in Israel and Lebanon.
Savett added that they will continue to support Israel’s right to defend itself, and work for stability in the region.
YNet News reported earlier that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved the preemptive operation against Hezbollah in Kiryat on Saturday night.
Gallant declared a state of emergency in Israel for the next 48 hours, allowing the IDF to issue restrictions to the population.
Hours earlier, Israel’s airport agency announced the suspension of departures and arrivals at Ben Gurion International Airport, but later said operations would resume at 7 p.m. Sunday.
For its part, Hezbollah issued a statement saying it had launched a “major drone and rocket attack against Israel in retaliation for the killing of its commander, Fuad Shukr, by the Israeli army in Beirut on July 30. These military operations will take some time to conclude. After that, a detailed statement on their process and objective will be released,” added Hezbollah, which declares itself pro-Palestine.
The Islamic resistance in Lebanon will confront any Zionist aggression, especially if it affects civilians, with severe punishment.
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– 2024-08-30 16:59:33
