Hezbollah shelling – Israel launches massive airstrikes in Lebanon

The Israeli military said the rocket launchers were prepared for immediate attacks on Israel. Lebanese security circles called it one of the worst waves of Israeli attacks since the mutual shelling began in October.

Fear of Israeli ground offensive
The military action increases concerns about a possible Israeli ground offensive in the south of the neighboring country. The Jewish state wants to force Hezbollah, which denies Israel’s right to exist, out of the border area to ensure the safety of its citizens in the north.

Following the heavy airstrikes, the Israeli military urged residents of several communities and towns in northern Israel to stay near bomb shelters. Civilians should also stay away from military training areas in the north during the weekend.

“Activities” announced in training areas
The army will carry out “activities” there that could pose a risk to the lives of unauthorized persons. “It is possible that shots and explosions will be heard in nearby towns,” the army said in a statement. The exact meaning of the instruction was initially unclear. There are concerns in Lebanon that Israel could be preparing a ground offensive in the south of the country.

In the event of such an operation, troops would be gathered in northern Israel. The army will continue to weaken Hezbollah’s infrastructure and capabilities to defend the State of Israel, the Israeli army said. According to the information, Hezbollah’s “terrorist infrastructure” and a weapons depot in southern Lebanon were also attacked.

Israeli army representatives were planning to present plans for the northern front to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during security talks in the evening, Israeli media reported. As the Times of Israel learned from military sources, the army wants to ensure that the tens of thousands of residents who have fled northern Israel return to their homes, but without expanding the conflict with Hezbollah into a regional war. Israel recently declared the return of residents to the north a war objective.

Airstrike after rocket fire from Lebanon
The extensive airstrikes came after heavy rocket fire from Lebanon hit communities in northern Israel, the Times of Israel reported. The army said two Israeli soldiers were killed: a 20-year-old soldier and a 43-year-old reservist.

Hezbollah chief announces retaliation
During the firefight, a speech by Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah was shown on Lebanese television. In it, he referred to the deadly attacks on his militia’s communications technology, accused Israel of attempted genocide and announced retaliatory measures. “This criminal act amounts to a declaration of war,” he said.

Israel has not publicly acknowledged the attacks. Not only Nasrallah, but also military and intelligence experts see Israel as the mastermind behind the explosions. “In the short term, this is an extraordinary tactical achievement,” Eyal Pinko, a former Israeli intelligence official, told the Wall Street Journal. “In the long term, this will not yield military or political success,” he said.

Hezbollah wants to continue attacks on Israel
Nasrallah announced that he would continue shelling northern Israel. The “resistance in Lebanon” will not stop its attacks on Israel until “Israel’s aggression against Gaza” stops, he said in his televised address. Israel can only allow people to return to the north safely if the war in the Gaza Strip is stopped.

Hezbollah claims solidarity with the Islamic Hamas in the coastal region. Both terrorist groups are supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran, whose government considers Israel its arch enemy.

The almost daily shelling has developed into a low-level war. According to official figures, around 600 people have been killed in Lebanon, most of them members of Hezbollah. According to official information, 48 people have been killed in Israel in attacks by the pro-Iranian militia, including soldiers but also many civilians.

Fear of Israeli ground offensive
The military action increases concerns about a possible Israeli ground offensive in the south of the neighboring country. The Jewish state wants to force Hezbollah, which denies Israel’s right to exist, out of the border area to ensure the safety of its citizens in the north.

Following the heavy airstrikes, the Israeli military urged residents of several communities and towns in northern Israel to stay near bomb shelters. Civilians should also stay away from military training areas in the north during the weekend.

“Activities” announced in training areas
The army will carry out “activities” there that could pose a risk to the lives of unauthorized persons. “It is possible that shots and explosions will be heard in nearby towns,” the army said in a statement. The exact meaning of the instruction was initially unclear. There are concerns in Lebanon that Israel could be preparing a ground offensive in the south of the country.

In the event of such an operation, troops would be gathered in northern Israel. The army will continue to weaken Hezbollah’s infrastructure and capabilities to defend the State of Israel, the Israeli army said. According to the information, Hezbollah’s “terrorist infrastructure” and a weapons depot in southern Lebanon were also attacked.

Israeli army representatives were planning to present plans for the northern front to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during security talks in the evening, Israeli media reported. As the Times of Israel learned from military sources, the army wants to ensure that the tens of thousands of residents who have fled northern Israel return to their homes, but without expanding the conflict with Hezbollah into a regional war. Israel recently declared the return of residents to the north a war objective.

Airstrike after rocket fire from Lebanon
The extensive airstrikes came after heavy rocket fire from Lebanon hit communities in northern Israel, the Times of Israel reported. The army said two Israeli soldiers were killed: a 20-year-old soldier and a 43-year-old reservist.

During the firefight, a speech by Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah was shown on Lebanese television. In it, he referred to the deadly attacks on his militia’s communications technology, accused Israel of attempted genocide and announced retaliatory measures. “This criminal act amounts to a declaration of war,” he said.

Israel has not publicly acknowledged the attacks. Not only Nasrallah, but also military and intelligence experts see Israel as the mastermind behind the explosions. “In the short term, this is an extraordinary tactical achievement,” Eyal Pinko, a former Israeli intelligence official, told the Wall Street Journal. “In the long term, this will not yield military or political success,” he said.

Nasrallah announced that he would continue shelling northern Israel. The “resistance in Lebanon” will not stop its attacks on Israel until “Israel’s aggression against Gaza” stops, he said in his televised address. Israel can only allow people to return to the north safely if the war in the Gaza Strip is stopped.

Hezbollah claims solidarity with the Islamic Hamas in the coastal region. Both terrorist groups are supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran, whose government considers Israel its arch enemy.

The almost daily shelling has developed into a low-level war. According to official figures, around 600 people have been killed in Lebanon, most of them members of Hezbollah. According to official information, 48 people have been killed in Israel in attacks by the pro-Iranian militia, including soldiers but also many civilians.