Israel yesterday launched airstrikes into Lebanon, saying that it had thwarted a large-scale Hezbollah attack, while the Lebanese group announced its own cross-border raids to avenge a top commander’s killing.
The Israeli military said its fighter jets had destroyed “thousands” of Hezbollah rocket launchers “aimed toward northern Israel and some were aimed toward central Israel,” far from the border.
Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese armed group, countered that Israel was making “empty claims” of having thwarted a larger attack, and said its own operation yesterday “was completed and accomplished.”
Photo: AFP
The office of UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon urged “all to cease fire and refrain from further escalatory action.”
Hezbollah has traded near-daily cross-border fire with Israeli forces throughout the Gaza war, in a campaign Hezbollah says is in support of Palestinian ally Hamas.
However, fears of a wider regional conflagration soared after attacks late last month blamed on Israel killed Iran-aligned militant leaders, including Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, prompting vows of revenge.
Hezbollah, which fought a major war against Israel in 2006, said its militants launched “a large number of drones” and “more than 320” Katyusha rockets targeting “enemy positions” across the border.
The Lebanese movement said its attack was an “initial response” to Shukr’s killing, adding that it had “ended with total success,” although the extent of the damage on the Israeli side was not immediately clear.
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported at least three dead in Israeli strikes in the country’s south. No casualties were immediately reported in Israel.
Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said his country’s strikes were meant “to remove the threats aimed at the citizens of Israel.”
Another military spokesman, Nadav Shoshani, said Hezbollah’s strikes were “part of a larger attack that was planned and we were able to thwart a big part of it this morning.”
Israeli authorities declared a 48-hour state of emergency, but later relaxed most of the restrictions.
By 7am, flights had resumed at Israel’s main international airport after a brief suspension, the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority said.
In Lebanon, Beirut airport did not close, but some airlines, including Royal Jordanian and Etihad Airways, canceled flights.
Air France said it was suspending flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut for at least 24 hours.
The US, Israel’s top arms provider, said its military was “postured” to support its ally.
The Israel-Hamas war, triggered by Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7 last year, had already drawn in Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The Houthis hailed the Hezbollah attack and declared that their own response for an Israeli strike on a key Yemeni port on July 20 was “definitely coming.”
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