BEIRUT, LEBANON – Hezbollah declared on Sunday that it had carried out drone and missile strikes targeting deep inside Israel, marking a severe escalation in response to the recent assassination of its leader, Fuad Shukur.
According to Philippines News Agency, this large-scale aerial operation included numerous drones aimed at a significant military target within Israel, specifics of which will be disclosed later. Additionally, Hezbollah launched a volley of rockets at several Israeli military sites, including barracks and Iron Dome missile defense systems located in what the group refers to as northern occupied Palestine. These strikes were described by Hezbollah as the “initial response” to the assassination of Shukur on July 30.
This aggressive exchange was triggered by the Israeli Army’s preemptive actions, which involved conducting over 40 airstrikes on 17 different locations in southern Lebanon. This operation was in anticipation of Hezbollah’s planned missile attacks on Israeli cities, as indicated by Israeli intelligence. Subsequently, Israel took the severe measure of halting all flights to and from Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.
Witnesses in Lebanon reported seeing dozens of rockets and drones being launched toward Israel, while ambulances were dispatched to areas targeted by Israeli airstrikes. The situation has drawn international attention, with U.S. President Joe Biden stating through a White House spokesperson that he is closely monitoring the events unfolding in both Israel and Lebanon. The National Security Council underscored ongoing support for Israel’s defensive actions and efforts toward regional stability.