The Israeli military launched a series of “preemptive” strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, as the Iran-backed militant group responded with its own attacks following the killing of a top commander.
These overnight strikes mark some of the most severe exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah, who have been trading fire for months.
The rising hostilities have heightened fears of a regional conflict, sparking urgent diplomatic efforts to ease tensions.
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In a meeting with his security cabinet on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s resolve to defend itself, stating, “We are determined to do everything to protect our country,” and vowing to “uphold a simple rule: whoever hurts us — we hurt him.”
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Shortly after Israel’s air raids, the IDF reported approximately 200 rockets launched from Lebanon into Israeli territory early Sunday.
No injuries were reported. Hezbollah, in turn, declared that the “first phase” of its retaliatory strikes against Israel had ended “with complete success,” claiming to have fired 320 rockets and deployed a barrage of drones toward Israel.
Lebanese health officials confirmed that two people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the village of At Tiri in southern Lebanon, while a third person died when a car was hit in the town of Khiyam.
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The Hezbollah-aligned Shia group Amal movement also reported the death of one of its fighters in Khiyam, though it is unclear if this is the same individual.
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