In a dramatic escalation, around 100 Israeli warplanes launched a significant preemptive strike on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon on Sunday, targeting the militant group’s rocket launchers. This move, described by Israel as necessary to prevent an imminent Hezbollah offensive, destroyed thousands of rocket launcher barrels. The Iran-backed Hezbollah responded by firing 320 rockets and drones at 11 Israeli military installations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to protect the nation, stating, “Whoever harms us, we harm him.” The hostilities further destabilize a region already reeling from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, now in its tenth month.
Hezbollah’s latest attack was reportedly in retaliation for the death of Fouad Shukur, a senior commander killed in an Israeli airstrike last month. The violence has sparked concerns of a broader regional conflict, potentially drawing Iran into the fray, given its close ties with Hezbollah and grievances over Israeli actions earlier this year.
Air raid sirens blared across northern Israel, prompting temporary flight diversions at Ben-Gurion International Airport. Meanwhile, the U.S. National Security Council expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself. As tensions soar, the Israeli military has warned civilians in southern Lebanon to evacuate areas near Hezbollah operations, hinting at the possibility of more extensive military actions.
