The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a series of airstrikes early Sunday morning, targeting Hezbollah positions across southern Lebanon.
The strikes were initiated after the IDF detected that Hezbollah was preparing to launch a significant missile and rocket attack on Israel.
According to IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the strikes were carried out to neutralize what was described as an “imminent threat” to Israeli civilians.
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“The IDF identified the Hezbollah terrorist organization preparing to fire missiles and rockets toward Israeli territory.
In response to these threats, the IDF is striking terror targets in Lebanon,” Hagari said in a statement.
The airstrikes were executed by Israeli Air Force fighter jets, which targeted locations associated with Hezbollah that were believed to pose a direct threat to Israel.
The IDF also issued a warning to civilians in southern Lebanon, urging them to evacuate areas where Hezbollah operates to avoid potential harm. “We warn the civilians located in the areas where Hezbollah is operating to move out of harm’s way immediately for their own safety,” the statement added.
“In a self-defense act to remove these threats, the IDF is striking terror targets in Lebanon, from which Hezbollah was planning to launch their attacks on Israeli civilians.”
Listen to an update from IDF Spokesperson, RAdm. Daniel Hagari, regarding Hezbollah’s plans to attack… pic.twitter.com/fKvbUVSmbT
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 25, 2024
🛑BREAKING: In a self-defense act to remove Hezbollah’s threat, the IDF is striking targets in south Lebanon, from which the Iranian-backed Lebanese terror organization was planning to launch their attacks on Israeli civilians.
Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks are targeting… pic.twitter.com/BtuUAqtgsv
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) August 25, 2024
The situation has led to increased tension along the Israel-Lebanon border. Public shelters were opened across Israel, particularly in the northern regions, where nearly 80,000 residents had already been forced to evacuate their homes due to ongoing rocket and drone attacks by Hezbollah.
Israeli media reported that early Sunday, Hezbollah launched over 320 projectiles into northern Israel, continuing a campaign that has already claimed the lives of 26 civilians and 19 soldiers in Israel.
Hezbollah’s attack on Sunday, which included both rockets and drones, came despite the IDF’s preemptive strikes.
The terror group stated that the barrage was a response to the assassination of one of its top military commanders, Fouad Shukur, in Beirut last month.
Warning sirens sounded across northern Israel as the country’s Iron Dome defense system intercepted many of the incoming rockets, though some managed to hit their targets, causing significant disruption, including the suspension of flights from Tel Aviv.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the situation, stating that the IDF had successfully eliminated “thousands of rockets that were aimed at northern Israel.”
He emphasized Israel’s commitment to defending its citizens and warned that any harm directed at Israel would be met with decisive retaliation. “We are determined to do everything to defend our country, to return the residents of the north securely to their homes and to continue upholding a simple rule: Whoever harms us — we will harm them,” Netanyahu said.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated significantly following the October 7 attacks by Hamas, has added another layer of complexity to the region’s already volatile situation.
Despite Israel’s efforts to prevent further attacks, Hezbollah has continued its operations, aligning itself with Hamas in the broader conflict.
Meanwhile, Egypt is hosting cease-fire talks aimed at de-escalating the situation, though it remains unclear if a resolution will be reached.
As the conflict intensifies, the situation along the Israel-Lebanon border remains tense, with both sides preparing for further confrontations in the days ahead.
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