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    • Hezbollah targets 11 Israeli military sites in ‘first phase’ of retaliatory strike | World News
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    Hezbollah targets 11 Israeli military sites in ‘first phase’ of retaliatory strike | World News

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    Israel has launched airstrikes in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah. The militant group says it has responded by firing drones and hundreds of rockets.

    Warning sirens sounded in the north Israel and explosions were heard as the military’s Iron Dome air defense system fired rockets from the southern Lebanon.

    Flights to and from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport were also suspended.

    In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accused Hezbollah of “preparing to fire rockets and missiles towards Israeli territory”.

    Live coverage: Follow more from the Middle East

    “In a self-defense action to eliminate these threats, the Israeli military is attacking terrorist targets in Lebanon,” said Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.

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    Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari explains why they carried out their attacks.

    Hezbollah said in a statement that it had completed the “first phase” of its attack, after firing 320 Katyusha rockets and hitting 11 Israeli military sites.

    There is no independent confirmation of the claims or whether any damage was caused.

    Israeli military chief of staff Herzi Halevi leads an operation at a location called Tel Aviv, Israel, in this screenshot from a video released on August 25, 2024. Israel Defense Forces/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. BLANK FROM SOURCE.
    Image:
    Israeli military chief of staff Herzi Halevi met with colleagues to lead Sunday’s strikes. Photo: IDF

    The Iran-backed militant group, which has been designated a terrorist organisation by several countries including the UK, said its attacks were in retaliation for the assassination of a top commander last month.

    Fuad Shukr died during a strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

    The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahupreviously described Shukr as “one of the most wanted terrorists in the world.”

    Meanwhile, the Lebanese National News Agency described “enemy warplanes” as causing “serious damage to property, crops and infrastructure, particularly electricity and water networks.”

    The escalation was predicted according to an assessment of Israeli intelligence by the country’s best-connected security correspondents.

    Analysis: ‘Extremely dangerous moment for the region’

    Israel expected a response to the killing of Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr and the military has been on high alert for the past three and a half weeks.

    The preemptive strikes on a wave of Hezbollah rocket launchers, reportedly ready to be fired at 5 a.m., suggest very good intelligence and could have prevented significant damage to Israel.

    Hezbollah has said it has attacked Israeli military bases and that the first wave of its response is over.

    When the next wave will come is unclear, but this is an extremely dangerous moment for the region. Keeping Israel guessing about when the next attacks will come is all part of the psychological warfare.

    The US, which is being closely monitored on developments, has already deployed its military equipment to the region in preparation for this moment.

    With high-level delegations meeting in Cairo later today to discuss a possible ceasefire in Gaza, Washington will urge Israel not to retaliate at this time, fearing the situation will spiral out of control and hoping that progress can be made in the talks.

    But few believe a ceasefire in Gaza is near.

    But if Hezbollah is expected to launch major attacks on Israel again, there will be loud voices within the Israeli government and security services urging Netanyahu to take offensive action now, rather than wait and see what happens next.

    On Sunday morning, Netanyahu met with members of his cabinet about the attacks.

    US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also spoke with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant.

    The Pentagon said he “reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering commitment to defending Israel against attacks by Iran and its regional partners and proxies.”

    Sunday’s attack came as Egypt is organizing a new round of talks aimed at ending Israel’s war against Hamas, which is now set to last 11 months.

    Hezbollah has said it will stop fighting if a ceasefire is reached.

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