Photo: Rabih Daher Agence France-Presse The army wrote that it “will do whatever is necessary to protect the citizens of Israel.”
Agence France-Presse in Jerusalem
Published yesterday at 10:48 p.m.
- Middle East
The Israeli army announced on Sunday that it was carrying out preemptive strikes in Lebanon after detecting preparations by Hezbollah to launch “large-scale attacks” against Israel.
“We are observing Hezbollah's preparations for large-scale attacks against Israeli territory,” the Israeli military wrote in an Arabic message on Telegram to residents of southern Lebanon.
“Anyone near areas where Hezbollah operates must leave immediately to protect themselves and their families,” it urged. She said she had “observed preparations to launch shells and missiles” against Israel.
The army “will do whatever is necessary to protect the citizens of Israel,” she added.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000In a video message on the social network X, Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said that “fighter jets are currently attacking Hezbollah targets.”
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Israel and Iran-backed Shiite group Hezbollah have been exchanging fire almost daily since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip. This was triggered by an unprecedented attack on Israeli territory on October 7 by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, an ally of Hezbollah.
Fears that the violence could escalate into all-out war have been high since the death of a Hezbollah military leader in late July, killed by an Israeli strike in Lebanon, and that of the former Hamas leader in Iran, who accused Israel of assassinating him. Hezbollah and Tehran have promised to retaliate.
Since October, the violence has left more than 600 dead in Lebanon, mainly Hezbollah fighters but also at least 131 civilians, according to an AFP tally.
In Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, 23 soldiers and 26 civilians have been killed, according to Israeli authorities.