Following the assassination of a high-ranking official in Beirut in the previous month, Hezbollah responded by launching an assault of hundreds of rockets and drones against Israel on Sunday, as announced by the Iran-aligned organization. While Israel’s cabinet gathered to plan a reaction, Israeli aircrafts targeted locations in Lebanon, responding to the military’s conclusion that Hezbollah was about to initiate an onslaught.
Hezbollah reported the firing of over 320 Katyusha rockets towards Israel, declaring that 11 military locations were hit. They referred to this onslaught as “the first phase” of their response to the killing of Fuad Shukr, a senior commander based in Beirut, indicating that a comprehensive reaction would follow in “some time”.
Since a missile attack in the Golan Heights, under Israeli occupation, resulted in the death of 12 young individuals last month and Israel subsequently assassinated Shukr in Beirut, there has been an atmosphere of anticipated escalation between the two factions.
The office of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu communicated that Israel’s cabinet was scheduled to convene at 7am (equivalent to 4am in Ireland). Israel Katz, Foreign Affairs Minister, stated that Israel’s reactions would correspond with events on the ground, but refuted any intention for full-scale warfare. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stressed Israel’s readiness to adopt any measures necessary to uphold its own security.
Gallant relayed in a statement, “We’ve executed accurate strikes in Lebanon to alleviate a looming threat to Israeli citizens. We’re closely monitoring the situation in Beirut, persistently resolved to employ all methods at our disposal to safeguard our citizens.”
Israel’s military action predominantly targeted southern Lebanon, but an Israeli military spokesperson confirmed their readiness to strike any location posing a threat. A state of emergency was declared by Gallant. Arrivals and departures at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv experienced a pause of approximately 90 minutes, although normal operations were expected to continue from 7am onwards.
Sirens sounded and numerous detonations echoed across various locations in northern Israel as rockets launched from southern Lebanon were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome aerial defence system. In response, Israel’s Magen David Adom ambulance service increased their vigilance nationwide.
The Israeli military has issued notifications regarding civil defences from central Israel extending to the north. While social gatherings have restrictions, people are permitted to go to work, given they have quick access to air raid shelters. The ambulance service has yet to report any fatalities in Israel.
Security sources in Lebanon have reported a minimum of 40 airstrikes from Israel affecting various southern towns in the country, marking one of the most concentrated bombings since the onset of the conflict in October.
One resident of Zibqeen, a southern Lebanese town approximately 7km from the border, described the experience as apocalyptic. He expressed it was the first time he had been woken by the sound of aircraft and loud rocket explosions prior to the dawn prayer.
Defense officials, as reported by Israel’s army radio, believed that Hezbollah had planned to attack central Israel with hundreds of missiles at 5am. However, this alleged attack was thwarted with about 100 Israeli jets launching a pre-emptive attack half an hour earlier. It’s speculated that any subsequent missile fire from Hezbollah was not planned.
Rear admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, announced that dozens of their air force’s jets are currently attacking locations in the southern parts of Lebanon. The military is actively working to eliminate threats and strike vigorously against the terrorist organisation Hezbollah, he added.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has prompted concerns of a widespread regional conflict that could potentially rope in Iran and the United States. US President Joe Biden is closely tracking these developments, according to White House reports.
Senior US officials have been maintaining continuous communication with Israeli officials under Biden’s directive. Seán Savett, the National Security Council spokesperson, stated that the US will continue to uphold Israel’s right to self-defence and strive to retain regional stability.
All of this unfolds as negotiators convene in Cairo to put an end to the Gaza fighting and negotiate a hostage exchange involving Israelis and foreign hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
The conflict has been ongoing since Hezbollah retaliated with missile attacks on Israel following Hamas gunmen’s onslaught on October 7th. The exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah have been continuous but have so far managed to avoid a full-fledged escalation whilst the war in southern Gaza persists.
Following a strike in the Golan Heights, a situation of instable equilibrium seemed to change, an action that Hizbullah denied any involvement in. This was immediately followed by the murder of Shukr, a high-ranking military leader from Hizbullah in Beirut.
Shukr’s demise due to an aerial strike was promptly succeeded by the killing of the Hamas political head, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran. This triggered Iran’s promises to seek retribution against Israel. – Reuters