Israel has launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon Thursday, targeting Hezbollah strongholds, amidst escalating tensions between the two foes.
The strikes came a day after explosions rocked Hezbollah’s communication equipment, sparking fears of an all-out war.
“Hezbollah’s actions are a clear escalation, and we will not tolerate them,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “We will do everything necessary to protect our citizens and our sovereignty.”
The Israeli military confirmed hitting multiple targets, including a Hezbollah weapons storage facility, in response to Wednesday’s projectile attacks. “We will continue to act decisively against any threat to Israel’s security,” the military said.
Hezbollah’s hand-held radios detonated across southern Lebanon Wednesday, killing no one but sowing disarray.
The previous day, hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah exploded, killing 12, including two children, and injuring nearly 3,000.
Israeli security services revealed that they had thwarted an Iran-backed assassination plot, arresting an Israeli citizen with ties to Turkey.
The suspect allegedly met with Iranian officials to discuss killing Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, or Shin Bet head Ronen Bar.
“We take these threats very seriously and will not hesitate to act against those who seek to harm our leaders,” Gallant said.
The exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border. Netanyahu vowed to return evacuated Israelis “securely to their homes.”
The conflict parallels Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza against Hamas, which began after Hamas fighters attacked Israel on October 7.
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