In the early hours of the morning, Israel launched a series of pre-emptive airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the two sides.
According to Israeli military sources, these strikes were a response to credible intelligence that Hezbollah was preparing for a large-scale rocket attack on central Israel, including the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.
The pre-emptive operation, involving around 100 Israeli aircraft, commenced at approximately 5 a.m. and targeted Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, including missile launch sites and weapons depots. The strategy was clear: to neutralise Hezbollah’s offensive capabilities before they could be deployed. The operation was conducted in a cyclical wave pattern, with aircraft continuously striking targets while others prepared for the next wave. This methodical approach allowed Israel to hit key military sites without causing widespread destruction or civilian casualties in Lebanon.
Notably, Israel’s strikes avoided indiscriminate damage, focusing solely on Hezbollah’s infrastructure. Contrary to past threats of overwhelming retaliation that could devastate Lebanon, this time, the Israeli airstrikes were more restrained. Lebanese civilian infrastructure remained largely intact, and the impact was limited to Hezbollah’s military assets.
Hezbollah had reportedly been planning a substantial rocket barrage targeting northern Israel and strategic locations in Tel Aviv, including Mossad headquarters and key military intelligence facilities. These planned strikes represented a serious escalation, with the potential to expand the conflict beyond the border region and into Israel’s densely populated urban centres. However, Israeli intelligence detected these preparations well in advance, allowing the Israeli Air Force to launch its pre-emptive strikes before Hezbollah could execute its plans.
Reports from Israeli news outlet Ynet indicated that Israel’s air force struck 40 targets in Lebanon. In one incident, a drone strike reportedly killed one person and injured four others in the town of Khiam, south Lebanon. Most of the strikes targeted Hezbollah strongholds in remote valleys, away from populated areas, although Hezbollah militants are known to use these regions for cover during their operations against Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant were actively involved in overseeing the airstrikes from an underground Israel Defense Forces (IDF) command centre. As Israel braced for further cross-border fire, the country’s security cabinet convened early Sunday morning. IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari warned that Hezbollah appeared to be preparing for an extensive attack on Israeli territory, using civilian areas in southern Lebanon as cover.
In retaliation, Hezbollah fired approximately 300 rockets and drones toward northern Israel, focusing on areas near the border. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) responded by activating their missile defence systems, which intercepted the majority of the incoming projectiles. While the attack did cause some damage in northern towns such as Ramot Naftali, casualties were minimal, with only one woman reported as lightly injured.
In a statement, Hezbollah announced that “the first stage of our retaliation for Shukr’s assassination has been successfully completed.”
“This initial phase involved targeting Israeli military bases and facilitating the launch of offensive drones toward deep targets within Israel,” the statement continued. “These drones have reached their designated targets as intended.”
Hezbollah claimed to have struck 11 Israeli military sites, including the Meron, Zaatoun, al-Sahl, Nafah, Yarden, and Ein Zeitim bases, along with the Kela, UF, Ramot Naftali, Neve Ziv, and Zarura camps, all located in northern Israel.
The group further stated that the drone operation was coordinated with rocket strikes on several Israeli military positions, barracks, and Iron Dome missile defence systems across northern Israel.
However, Israeli reports contradicted these claims, stating that no significant damage had been caused to strategic infrastructure in Israel.
Today’s escalation is rooted in Hezbollah’s vow to retaliate for the assassination of its senior military commander, Fuad Shukr, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on 30 July. Shukr’s death was a major blow to Hezbollah, and the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, had promised to respond decisively. After nearly a month of heightened tensions, Hezbollah’s retaliatory strike finally came, but it was met with Israel’s swift and overwhelming pre-emptive response.
Nasrallah is expected to give a speech later today, during which he is likely to outline Hezbollah’s next steps and possibly declare their operation a victory. The speech will be closely monitored, as it may offer insight into whether Hezbollah intends to continue its military actions or de-escalate the situation. Although Hezbollah’s missile capabilities were reduced by Israel’s airstrikes, the group remains capable of launching significant attacks, and the potential for further escalation remains.
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