Israel and Hezbollah exchange heavy fire in major escalation

Israel has stated it carried out a wave of pre-emptive strikes throughout southern Lebanon to thwart a large-scale rocket and drone assault by Hezbollah.

Jets destroyed hundreds of the Iran-backed armed group’s rocket launchers on Sunday morning, Israel’s army stated. Hezbollah and its Amal allies stated three fighters had been killed.

Hezbollah stated it had nonetheless managed to fireplace 320 rockets and drones at Israel in retaliation for the assassination of a senior commander. In keeping with Israel’s army, one Israeli navy soldier was killed.

The US says it’s working to keep away from any additional escalation after 10 months of hostilities which have raised fears of an all-out conflict.

There have been virtually every day exchanges of fireplace throughout the Israel-Lebanon border for the reason that day after the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on 7 October.

There was no breakthrough on the newest spherical of US-backed Gaza peace talks in Cairo.

Earlier than leaving, Hamas stated it rejected new Israeli circumstances and accused Israel of backtracking on guarantees. Israel denies altering its calls for since a final spherical of talks in early July.

Hezbollah has stated it’s performing in help of the Palestinian group, which can also be backed by Iran. Each Hamas and Hezbollah are proscribed as terrorist organisations by Israel, the UK and different international locations.

Since October, greater than 560 folks have been reported killed based on Lebanon’s well being ministry, the overwhelming majority of them Hezbollah fighters, whereas 26 civilians and 23 troopers have been killed in Israel, authorities report.

The UN says virtually 200,000 folks have additionally been displaced on each side of the border.

Israel’s assault on Hezbollah at round 04:30 (01:30 GMT) on Sunday was its greatest for the reason that full-scale conflict between them in 2006.

The Israel Protection Forces (IDF) stated about 100 fighter jets had “struck and destroyed hundreds of Hezbollah rocket launcher barrels” in additional than 40 areas of southern Lebanon.

The strikes went forward after “intensive preparation” for a large-scale aerial assault by Hezbollah was detected, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated.

Lebanon’s state-run Nationwide Information Company reported that Israeli plane had struck Beaufort Citadel, the Bir Kalb space, and the outskirts of the cities of Ain Qana, Kfar Fila, Louaizeh, Bsalia, Kfar Melki, Sajd and Sarba.

A resident of the city of Zibqeen stated it had “felt just like the apocalypse”.

One individual was killed in a drone strike on a automobile in Khiam, the Lebanese ministry of public well being stated. The Amal motion stated one in every of its fighters from the village had been killed.

The ministry additionally stated an Israeli assault on the village of Tiri had killed two folks. Hezbollah confirmed the deaths of two fighters from close by Haris, with out offering any particulars.

“What occurred at present is just not the tip of the story,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed a cupboard assembly.

In addition to destroying short-range rockets, Mr Netanyahu stated, the IDF intercepted the entire drones which Hezbollah had “launched at a strategic goal within the centre of the nation”.

“[Sheikh Hassan] Nasrallah in Beirut and [Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei in Tehran have to know that that is a further step in altering the scenario within the north,” he warned the leaders of Hezbollah and Iran.

International Minister Israel Katz stated he had informed dozens of his counterparts worldwide that Israel did “not search a full-scale conflict” however would “do no matter it takes to guard our residents”.

Not lengthy after the Israeli strikes, Hezbollah stated it had focused and hit 11 Israeli army amenities in Israel and the occupied Golan Heights with greater than 320 Katyusha rockets.

It described the barrage as a response to the assassination of senior army commander Fuad Shukr, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut on 30 July.

The group stated the operation had been “accomplished and achieved” and it dismissed as “empty” Israel’s statements that its strikes on Sunday had thwarted a bigger assault.

Video footage confirmed explosions within the sky as incoming rockets have been intercepted by the Iron Dome air defence system.

Later, the IDF introduced that an Israeli Navy soldier had fallen “throughout fight in northern Israel”, with out offering additional particulars.

Israeli media say he was killed in an incident involving a Hezbollah drone and an Iron Dome interceptor within the neighborhood of a Dvora patrol boat, about 4km from the Lebanese border.

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah stated in a televised handle on Sunday night that the group had focused a army intelligence base about 110km (68 miles) into Israeli territory, which was just one.5km (0.9 miles) away from Tel Aviv.

He stated Hezbollah had been capable of perform its assault as deliberate, and all drones had been launched efficiently, getting into Israeli airspace, based on a Reuters translation.

He warned that the group would reply once more if the outcomes have been deemed to be not sufficient.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati – whose authorities has little affect over Hezbollah – stated he was “holding a collection of contacts with Lebanon’s pals to cease the escalation”.

He known as for a halt to the “Israeli aggression” and the implementation of the UN Safety Council decision which ended the 2006 conflict.

Mr Mikati additionally emphasised Lebanon’s help for worldwide efforts to dealer a Gaza ceasefire and hostage launch deal between Israel and Hamas.

The White Home nationwide safety adviser, Jake Sullivan, stated the hope was that the most recent combating wouldn’t result in a regional conflict.

The US sees an settlement as key to de-escalating tensions alongside the Israel-Lebanon border as a result of Hezbollah has stated it can solely cease the hostilities as soon as the combating in Gaza ends.