Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Early Sunday morning, Israeli warplanes launched a series of heavy airstrikes on targets in southern Lebanon, marking one of the most intense exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah in recent months. The Israeli military described the operation as a pre-emptive strike against the Iranian-backed militant group, Hezbollah.
In retaliation, Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets into Israel, claiming to have launched hundreds of projectiles. The cross-border violence resulted in the deaths of at least three people in Lebanon, according to local reports.
The Israeli military stated that the airstrikes were aimed at neutralizing potential threats from Hezbollah, which has been a longstanding adversary in the region. “We will not allow Hezbollah to entrench itself on our borders,” an Israeli military spokesperson said, emphasizing the pre-emptive nature of the operation.
Hezbollah, in response, vowed to defend its territory, accusing Israel of escalating the conflict. “Our response is a clear message that any aggression will be met with strong retaliation,” a Hezbollah statement read, warning of further strikes if Israel continued its attacks.
The exchange of fire comes amid growing tensions in the region, with both sides accusing each other of provocations. The situation has raised concerns of a potential wider conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which last engaged in a full-scale war in 2006.
The Israeli airstrikes targeted several locations in southern Lebanon, including what the Israeli military described as Hezbollah’s weapons depots and command centers. The strikes reportedly caused significant damage to infrastructure, but the full extent of the destruction remains unclear.
In the aftermath of the airstrikes, Hezbollah’s rocket barrage targeted several towns in northern Israel, triggering air raid sirens and forcing residents to seek shelter. The Israeli military reported some damage but did not confirm any casualties.
International reactions have been swift, with calls for both sides to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation. The United Nations has urged a return to calm, warning that the situation could spiral out of control if not managed carefully.
The cross-border violence underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire that has largely held since the end of the 2006 conflict. Both Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in sporadic exchanges of fire over the years, but the latest incident is among the most severe since that time.
As tensions continue to simmer, the international community remains on alert, hoping to prevent another major conflict in a region already plagued by instability and violence.