Hezbollah announced that two of its combatants were killed in a spate of air raids in south Lebanon at dawn Sunday, which Israel described as a preemptive operation against the Iranian-backed party.
Israel claimed that the attack followed intelligence information that Hezbollah was preparing to launch a large-scale missile offensive on targets deep into Israeli territory.
The alarming flareup of cross-border violence prompted caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to convene an emergency cabinet meeting at his residence on Sunday morning. He stressed that he was “conducting a series of contacts with Lebanon’s friends to stop the escalation.”
“What is required is to stop the Israeli aggression first and implement Resolution 1701,” Mikati told the attending ministers who reviewed the emergency plan and preparedness in terms of health, shelter, food and fuel.
The Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon and UN peacekeeping force in the south, UNIFIL called on all parties to cease fire and refrain from further escalation, in light of the worrying developments along the Blue Line since this morning.
They also emphasized that a return to the cessation of hostilities, followed by the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, is the only sustainable way forward. “We will continue our engagements to strongly urge all sides to de-escalate,” they concluded.
Earlier reports said three people were killed in the strikes, including the two Hezbollah fighters. A third casualty occurred in Khiam in a drone attack on a car.
Israeli planes carried out a preemptive strike of about forty raids on southern Lebanon, targeting the outskirts of the towns of Zibqin, Batoulayyeh, Tyre Harfesh, Shmaa, Wadi Al-Azziyah and Hanayya. They caused serious damage to property, crops, infrastructure, especially the electricity and water networks. Israeli planes also launched raids on Rihan, while flying at a medium altitude over the Jezzine area and above the villages of the districts of Tyre and Bint Jbeil. The Israeli army carried out raids in the western and central sectors, and fired heavy machine guns towards the towns of Ramya, Aita al- Shaab and Naqoura.
Preemptive Israeli Strike on #Lebanon and Hezb Launches Phase 1 Retaliation pic.twitter.com/Fw8zkkqdQX
— This is Beirut (@ThisIsBeirut_) August 25, 2024
They also launched air-to-ground missiles towards the town of Mansouri in the district of Tyre, as a drone targeted a garden in the Qasmiya area, critically injuring one person.
Israeli artillery targeted Wadi Shabaa and the town of Dahiyeh in the western sector of Tyre. Israeli planes also carried out airstrikes on Ain Qana, Loueizeh, Bsallim and Kafr Melki.
For its part, Hezbollah announced that it carried out the first phase of its response to Israel’s assassination of its commander, Fouad Shokr, targeting 11 bases and Israeli locations within Israeli territory with 320 missiles.
The pro-Iranian group stated that the first phase involved targeting bases and Israeli locations to facilitate the drones moving towards their intended target deep within Israeli territory. According to Hezbollah, the list of areas targeted is comprised of military locations : Meron, Nafi Ziv Hangar, Zaatoun Base, Zaoura and Sahl.
The group “began an air attack with a large number of drones” targeting Israeli territory, the statement said, while fighters also targeted “a number of enemy positions and barracks and Iron Dome platforms… with a large number of rockets.”
Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adrae stated on the X platform, “Nearly 100 warplanes attacked and destroyed thousands of Hezbollah launchers that were intended to be directed toward the north and center of the country.”
The Israeli military said its fighter jets attacked thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers in South Lebanon on Sunday morning that were aimed at northern and central Israel.
“Most of these launchers were aimed toward northern Israel and some were aimed toward central Israel.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also stated on Sunday morning that he will “do everything to restore security in north.”
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The Israeli military said it launched the preemptive strikes in Lebanon on Sunday after detecting preparations for “large-scale” attacks by the Iran-backed militant group.
The military also warned Israelis to expect incoming missiles and drones launched by Hezbollah, with the government declaring a 48-hour state of emergency.
Hezbollah issued a statement shortly after, announcing large-scale drone and rocket launches targeting deep into Israeli territory in retaliation for the death of Fouad Shokr in an Israeli strike last month.
In a statement released shortly before 5:00 AM (2:00 GMT), the Israeli military said its jets were striking targets in Lebanon “that posed an imminent threat” to Israelis.
“From right next to the homes of Lebanese civilians in the south of Lebanon, we can see that Hezbollah is preparing to launch an extensive attack on Israel, while endangering the Lebanese civilians,” military spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a video statement released at the same time.
He urged civilians “to move out of harm’s way.”
“Hezbollah’s ongoing aggression risks dragging the people of Lebanon, the people of Israel and the whole region into a wider escalation,” Hagari said.
In a message addressed to the residents of southern Lebanon early on Sunday morning, the Israeli military said, “We are monitoring Hezbollah’s preparations to carry out large-scale attacks on Israeli territory near your homes. You are in danger. We are attacking and eliminating Hezbollah threats.”
“Anyone who is near areas where Hezbollah operates should leave immediately to protect themselves and their families,” the message posted on Telegram said.
The “military operations will take some time to complete,” it said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to hold a security cabinet meeting at 4:00 GMT, his office said.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a 48-hour nationwide state of emergency from 6:00 AM on Sunday.
His office said in a statement that he had briefed his US counterpart Lloyd Austin on the situation, adding that the “defense establishment is following developments in Beirut.”
“Secretary Austin reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad commitment to defending Israel against attacks by Iran, its regional partners and proxies,” a Pentagon spokesman said.
With AFP
