Hezbollah launched a major barrage of missiles against Israel on Sunday in retaliation for the assassination of a senior commander in Beirut last month, the Iranian-backed movement said, as Israel’s cabinet met to prepare a response. The recent Hezbollah missile attack on Israel marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. #HezbollahMissileAttack
Israeli jets hit targets in Lebanon shortly before the strikes were launched as the military assessed that Hezbollah was preparing to begin the barrage.
“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,” the Israel Defence Forces said in a statement.
Israel’s cabinet was to meet at 7 a.m. (0400 GMT), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced.
Flights to and from Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv were suspended, the airports authority said, and the defence minister declared an emergency.
Warning sirens rang out in northern Israel as explosions echoed across several areas. The Iron Dome successfully intercepted rockets from southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israel’s Magen David Adom ambulance service is on high alert nationwide.
Expectations of escalation increased after a missile strike in the Golan Heights killed 12 youths. In response, the Israeli military assassinated a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut. Tensions have been high ever since.
The Israeli military said new civil defence instructions would be issued to the population shortly. It warned civilians in southern Lebanon to stay away from areas where Hezbollah operates.
Moreover, this Hezbollah missile attack has drawn international attention. World leaders are urging both sides to de-escalate and seek peaceful resolutions. #HezbollahMissileAttack
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