Hezbollah has announced the completion of the first phase of its retaliatory operation against Israel, in response to the death of commander Fuad Shukr, who was killed in late July.
This development follows Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon earlier on Sunday, which were reportedly a preemptive measure against Hezbollah’s alleged plans to attack northern Israel, according to Al Jazeera.
The exchange of rocket fire between Hezbollah and Israel has escalated since the beginning of Israel’s conflict with Gaza in October. This latest incident marks a significant intensification of the ongoing tensions along the border.
Hezbollah’s response was anticipated, coming weeks after Israel’s targeted killings of senior commanders in both Hezbollah and Hamas. The Lebanese militant group claimed to have fired over 320 Katyusha rockets at 11 Israeli military installations, including the Meron base and several locations in the occupied Golan Heights. This escalation is part of a prolonged cycle of attacks between the two sides.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent, Zeina Khodr, reporting from the Lebanese town of Marjayoun, noted, “Most of the Israeli strikes on Lebanon were concentrated within a 5-kilometer (3-mile) radius along the 120-kilometer (74-mile) border.” She added, “The border area has now been designated a military zone and evacuated. It has been repeatedly targeted by the Israeli army in recent months.”
In response, Israel claimed to have preemptively struck thousands of Hezbollah rocket launch sites in southern Lebanon using 100 jets, about half an hour before an anticipated attack, as part of an effort to protect its citizens.
However, Israeli drone and airstrike operations that followed resulted in casualties, with one person critically injured in Qasimia and another killed in Khiam, as reported by Lebanon’s NNA news agency.
Amid these escalating tensions, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared a 48-hour nationwide “special situation” starting at 6 a.m. (03:00 GMT) on Sunday.
In addition, Ben Gurion airport was temporarily closed, and there were reports of injuries in northern Israel.
The Israeli army also imposed a series of restrictions on civilians in northern Israel and the Golan Heights.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “Israel is determined to do everything possible to defend itself. Whoever harms us – we will harm them.”
Following the attacks, Al Jazeera’s Khodr reported, “There are indications that this initial wave of attacks in southern Lebanon has concluded. We are awaiting confirmation from the Israeli military to see if more strikes are planned, which could trigger a further Hezbollah response and potentially expand this conflict.”
“This is a very dangerous conflict, and while it has been largely contained, there is a genuine concern that it could escalate further and spiral out of control.”
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