Israel launched a wave of airstrikes in southern Lebanon early Sunday, saying it was preemptively attacking Hezbollah. In response, the militant group said it would launch hundreds of missiles and drones to avenge the killing of one of its commanders last month.
The intense exchange of fire is unlikely to lead to a new war, but the situation remains tense. Meanwhile, high-level talks aimed at reaching a truce in the 10-month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza were held in Egypt on Sunday, with diplomats hoping to ease tensions in the region, the Associated Press reported.
The Israeli military said it carried out the strike because Hezbollah was planning to launch a massive salvo of rockets and shells into Israel. Shortly after, Hezbollah announced it had attacked Israeli military positions in retaliation for the killing of Fuad Shukur, one of its founders, in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last month.
By mid-morning, the exchange of fire appeared to have stopped, with both sides saying their targets were military only. At least three people were killed in the strikes in Lebanon, but no casualties were reported in Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at a cabinet meeting, said the military had destroyed “thousands of rockets aimed at northern Israel” and called on citizens to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command.
“We are determined to do everything to defend our country, to return the people of the north safely to their homes, and to continue to adhere to a simple rule: whoever harms us – we will harm them,” he said.
Prepared by: Sergei Daga