This escalation comes after weeks of growing tension, with Hezbollah and its regional ally, Iran, vowing to avenge the assassination of its military commander Fuad Shukr.
The Lebanese-based militia group Hezbollah, along with Israel, announced this morning large-scale military engagements between them. The Iran-backed Hezbollah said it launched over 320 Katyusha rockets at major camps of the Israeli military.
In return, the Israeli military attacked Hezbollah’s positions within Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces issued the following statement on the operations early Sunday morning. In its statement, the IDF announced that it discovered last-minute final preparations by Hezbollah for large-scale attacks against the State of Israel. Israeli Air Force fighter jets were among those drafted into action. According to reports, the Air Force concentrated its attack on Hezbollah positions regarded as posing a direct threat to civilians.
The escalation comes after several weeks of heightened tension, with Hezbollah and regional ally Iran promising to avenge the killing a month ago of Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr. Hezbollah described the attack on its commander as a direct provocation and act of war.
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It was later reported that Hezbollah had launched a broad aerial assault with many drones targeting deep targets in Israel in reaction to Shukr’s killing. There were also rockets targeted at a number of Israeli positions, key among them being the military barracks and Iron Dome systems. Hezbollah claimed the military campaign would take time to achieve its objectives.
A security cabinet meeting has been called by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced a state of emergency across the country for the next 48 hours in a statement from his office. This “special situation on the home front,” as it is known, officially allows the IDF Home Front Command to enforce far more widespread restrictions on the civilian population.
