Hezbollah may launch preemptive attack on Israel: Media reports

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) - Hezbollah may launch a preemptive surprise attack against Israel, media reports said Friday.

The Israeli news portal, Walla, said Israel estimates that Hasan Nasrallah, the head of the group, may initiate a large-scale attack to preempt an even larger attack by the Israeli army.

The news portal did not, however, provide details but several Israeli officials recently threatened Lebanon and Hezbollah as the escalation between the two sides gravely intensified in recent days.

Earlier Friday, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Israel will soon make “necessary decisions” to halt attacks from the Lebanese resistance group.

The Israeli military also approved operational plans Tuesday for a wide-scale attack on Lebanon amid rising border tensions with Hezbollah.

Nasrallah said Wednesday that Israel plans to use Greek Cypriot airports and airspace if its own airports are targeted in the event of a full-scale war with Lebanon.

He warned that the island, west of Lebanon, would be treated as an “enemy” in such a scenario.

Tensions have soared along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv pressed ahead with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 37,450 victims since Oct. 7.

Hezbollah links the cessation of its attacks on Israel to the end of Israel's onslaught on Gaza.