Israel launched a series of airstrikes in southern Lebanon early Sunday, claiming that these were pre-emptive strikes against Hezbollah militant group. Later, Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets and drones against Israel, describing it as the first phase of an attack aimed at avenging the assassination of a senior commander in Beirut last month, reported Reuters.
While both sides claimed to have only targeted military sites, the exchange has raised fears about a potential escalation into a broader regional conflict that could undermine efforts to establish a ceasefire in Gaza.
For weeks, the Middle East has been on the edge after Hezbollah and Iran vowed to retaliate against Israel for the Beirut strike that killed the militant group’s top commander, as well as the assassination of Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh, which Israel has been blamed for. As it launched its strikes on Lebanon, the Israeli army said Hezbollah was planning to launch a heavy barrage of rockets and missiles towards Israel, according to the Associated Press.
Sunday’s violence marked one of the largest exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah. AP reported that it had ended by mid-morning.
Ahead of the attack, Israel told Lebanon residents near Hezbollah sites to "leave immediately". In a message posted on Telegram, the Israeli military addressed the residents and said that they have been “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 added, as per an AFP report.
According to AP, air raid sirens were heard throughout northern Israel, and Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport began diverting incoming flights and delaying takeoffs. In a video release, military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said "Hezbollah will soon fire rockets, and possibly missiles and UAVs, towards Israeli territory", according to AFP.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security cabinet meeting at 7 AM (local time), but there were no immediate details on any further response from Israel, reported AFP.
Israel and Hezbollah have traded near-daily crossborder fire since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, triggered by Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on southern Israel last year. Fear of a full-scale conflict in Lebanon has intensified after Hezbollah’s chief declared that the group is “obliged to respond” to Israel, “whatever the consequences”, following last month’s Beirut strike that killed military commander Fuad Shukr.