Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies

BEIRUT, Lebanon (August 25, 2024) — Tensions between Israel and Lebanon reached new heights early Sunday as Israel launched a massive airstrike campaign involving 100 jets targeting Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military claimed the strikes were pre-emptive, aimed at thwarting what it described as an imminent “large-scale” attack by the Iran-backed militant group.

In retaliation, Hezbollah unleashed over 320 rockets into Israeli territory, hitting military positions and bases, including those in the occupied Golan Heights. The group’s response was described as the first phase of a retaliatory strike following the killing of senior commander Fuad Shukr in late July, an attack Hezbollah attributes to Israel.

The escalation has fueled fears of a broader conflict, with the United Nations and Lebanon’s Prime Minister issuing urgent calls for restraint. The UN’s special coordinator for Lebanon, along with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), released a joint statement urging both sides to cease fire and avoid further escalatory actions, labeling the situation as “worrying.”

Key Updates:

• UN Urges Restraint: The United Nations has warned against further escalatory actions, with calls for both sides to cease fire immediately.
• Hezbollah’s Retaliation: The militant group claimed responsibility for firing more than 320 Katyusha rockets at 11 Israeli military installations, including the Meron base and sites in the Golan Heights.
• Israel’s Pre-Emptive Strikes: Israel stated that its airstrikes were a pre-emptive measure to neutralize Hezbollah’s planned attacks, with 100 jets targeting thousands of Hezbollah launch sites in southern Lebanon.
• Background: The flare-up comes after the targeted killing of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, which has been a significant factor in the recent surge of hostilities.

The situation remains highly volatile as both sides exchange heavy fire, with the potential for further escalation posing a serious threat to regional stability. The international community is closely monitoring the conflict, urging both Israel and Hezbollah to step back from the brink of a full-scale war.