JERUSALEM – Israel launched heavy airstrikes in southern Lebanon early Sunday morning in what it said was a preemptive strike against the militant Hezbollah group. The attack threatens to spark a broader war across the region that might torpedo efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.
The army said Hezbollah planned to fireside heavy rockets and missiles at Israel. Shortly afterwards, Hezbollah announced it had attacked Israel with a lot of rockets and drones, a primary response to the killing of one in all its top commanders in an attack in Beirut last month.
Hezbollah had announced a transparent response to the targeted killing of Fouad Shukur, raising fears that months of retaliatory strikes could escalate into open war.
The attacks got here as Egypt is hosting a brand new round of talks to finish the 11-month war between Israel and Hamas. Hezbollah has said it should stop fighting if there’s a ceasefire in Gaza. Iran supports each groups, in addition to militant groups in Syria, Iraq and Yemen that might develop into involved in a wider conflict.
Air raid sirens were reported throughout northern Israel, and Israel's Ben-Gurion International Airport diverted incoming flights and temporarily delayed takeoffs. The Israel Airports Authority said air traffic resumed at 7 a.m. local time.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israel's top military spokesman, said “dozens” of warplanes had attacked targets in southern Lebanon. He said air defenses, warships and fighter jets were defending Israeli skies and were involved within the operation.
Hezbollah said its attack included greater than 320 Katyusha rockets against several sites in Israel and a “large number” of drones. The operation targeted “a qualitative Israeli military target to be announced later” in addition to “enemy sites and barracks, as well as Iron Dome (missile defense) platforms.”
In the US, National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said President Joe Biden “is closely monitoring events in Israel and Lebanon.”
“At his direction, senior U.S. officials have been communicating continuously with their Israeli counterparts,” Savett said. “We will continue to support Israel's right to self-defense and remain committed to regional stability.”
In recent weeks, diplomats from the United States and European countries have made quite a few visits to Israel and Lebanon, fearing that the situation could escalate right into a regional war, possibly involving the United States and Iran.
Last week, Israel's defense minister said he would deploy more troops to the Lebanese border in anticipation of possible fighting with Hezbollah.
Military spokesman Hagari said early Sunday that “in an act of self-defense to avert these threats, the (Israeli military) is attacking terror targets in Lebanon from which Hezbollah wanted to launch its attacks on Israeli civilians.”
“We see that Hezbollah is preparing a full-scale attack on Israel, endangering the Lebanese civilian population,” he added, without giving details. “We warn civilians in the areas where Hezbollah operates to immediately leave the danger zone for their own safety,” he added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he and his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, were directing the newest operation from the military headquarters in Tel Aviv. Gallant said there was a “special situation” on the house front. Netanyahu's security cabinet is scheduled to fulfill later Sunday morning.
Lebanese media reported attacks within the south of the country, but didn’t immediately provide further details. Video footage appeared on social media that appeared to point out attacks in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah began attacking Israel almost immediately after the war in Gaza began, sparked by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7. Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire almost day by day, displacing tens of hundreds of individuals on each side of the border. Until Sunday, each side were anxious to avoid open war.
Hezbollah, which fought Israel in the summertime of 2006 and suffered a stalemate, is taken into account much more powerful today than it was then. The US and Israel estimate that Hezbollah has about 150,000 rockets and is able to striking anywhere in Israel. The group has also developed drones that may evade Israel's defenses and precision-guided munitions.
Israel has vowed a devastating response within the event of a full-scale war, which might likely destroy vital civilian infrastructure, particularly in south Beirut and southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah's primary strongholds are positioned. A war would likely displace a whole lot of hundreds of individuals on each side.
Hezbollah is a detailed ally of Iran. Iran also threatened retaliation for the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, a senior Hamas leader, in an explosion in Tehran last month. Blame for the blast was widely attributed to Israel, which has not commented on its involvement.
Associated Press author Aamer Madhani in Buellton contributed to this report.
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