Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon early Sunday, citing a “preemptive” effort to thwart an imminent Hezbollah attack on its northern towns, according to a report from Al Jazeera.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the strikes targeted Hezbollah launch sites and other military positions just 30 minutes before the militant group was expected to carry out its own assault.
Hezbollah responded, announcing it had completed the first phase of its retaliatory operation, which included the firing of over 320 Katyusha rockets at multiple Israeli military bases and barracks, including key positions in the occupied Golan Heights.
The attacks come in the wake of the killing of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr last month, an event for which the group holds Israel responsible.
The exchange of fire marks one of the most intense confrontations since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October. Fears are growing that the conflict could spiral into a broader regional war.
In Israel, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared a nationwide “special situation” for the next 48 hours.
Lebanon’s state-run NNA news agency confirmed that one person was critically injured in an Israeli drone attack in Qasimia, while another was killed in an airstrike on the town of Khiam.
Meanwhile, smoke and flames were seen rising from the Lebanese side of the border as a result of the continued airstrikes.
The Israeli military has imposed strict restrictions on civilians in northern Israel and the Golan Heights as a precautionary measure.
In Lebanon, Hezbollah warned that it could expand its operations if the conflict continues, raising concerns of a potential full-scale war.
In the wake of the exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah, the United States reiterated its support for Israel’s right to self-defense. “Senior US officials have been in continuous communication with their Israeli counterparts,” said Sean Savett, spokesperson for the US National Security Council.
The news comes as Egypt is currently hosting talks to halt Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, but a ceasefire remains elusive. Observers warn that without a breakthrough, the region could be on the brink of an even more dangerous and widespread conflict.