Israeli army claims to have targeted Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon in 'preemptive strike'

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – The Israeli army launched a massive air raid on southern Lebanon early Sunday morning, targeting over 200 sites in what it claimed was a preemptive strike to prevent Hezbollah's major attack.

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee claimed that the attack involved 100 fighter jets and was intended to prevent an impending missile and rocket attack on northern and central Israel.

Hezbollah was preparing to launch hundreds of rockets and missiles at key strategic installations in central Israel at around 5:00 a.m. (0200GMT), Israel’s Army Radio claimed, citing military sources.

The Israeli army began its preemptive strike around 4:30 a.m., just 30 minutes before the planned Hezbollah attack, it added.

"The preemptive airstrike by our forces effectively neutralized the threat within minutes and averted a large-scale attack on the country," a military official was quoted as telling the radio.

Another report on Israel's Channel 12 TV claims that military airstrikes in Lebanon "prevented some 6,000 rockets and drones" from being launched into Israeli territory.

The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported, citing an unnamed Israeli source, that the airstrike halted Hezbollah's major attack on "strategic facilities" in central Israel. The report did not go into further detail about the targeted facilities.

Separately, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant informed his US counterpart Lloyd Austin by the phone that Israeli airstrikes had thwarted Hezbollah's attacks.

“Minister Gallant and Secretary Austin discussed the importance of avoiding regional escalation,” the statement said, adding that Gallant emphasized that the “Israeli defense establishment is committed to defending Israeli citizens and will use all means available to eliminate imminent threats.”

According to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation, Tel Aviv had informed Washington about the airstrike in advance.

In a separate statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said "Foreign Minister Israel Katz sent a direct message to dozens of foreign ministers worldwide, urging them to support Israel."

On Sunday morning, Israeli warplanes conducted more than 40 airstrikes targeting areas in southern Lebanon, marking the most intense attack since the confrontations began on October 8, 2023.

Earlier, Hezbollah announced that it had launched 320 rockets at Israeli military positions as part of the first phase of its retaliation for the assassination of one of its commanders, Fouad Shukr, by Israel in late July.

Since October 8, 2023, Lebanon’s Hezbollah has been engaged in daily exchanges of fire with the Israeli army across the Blue Line, resulting in hundreds of casualties, mostly on the Lebanese side.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of the war in Gaza, where Israel has killed more than 40,300 Palestinians since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas incursion. The military campaign has reduced much of the territory to rubble and left most of the people homeless, hungry and prone to disease.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi