The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday morning that they had begun “aggressive and widespread” attacks on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon to eliminate the threat to Israel.
This came after the Israel Defense Forces detected Hezbollah preparing to fire missiles and rockets at Israeli territory.
“We are eliminating any threats to Israeli soil,” IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said at a news conference. “Dozens of [Israeli Air Force] “Our warplanes are currently striking different locations in southern Lebanon. We continue to eliminate the threat and are conducting intensive strikes against the Hezbollah terrorist organization.”
“Hezbollah is firing rockets and drones at Israeli territory,” he continued. “Our air defense systems, Israeli Navy ships and Israeli Air Force aircraft are joining the mission of defending Israel’s skies, identifying and intercepting threats, and striking anywhere in Lebanon necessary to eliminate them and attack Hezbollah.”
IDF attacks Hezbollah terror site in Lebanon after preparations to fire on Israel seen
This photo taken from a location in northern Israel shows a Hezbollah unmanned aerial vehicle being intercepted by the Israeli Air Force over northern Israel on August 25, 2024. (Jallah Marri/AFP via Getty Images)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with his cabinet ministers on Sunday morning and renewed his call for an end to the fighting for tens of thousands of Israelis who have been displaced by months of fighting.
“We are doing everything in our power to defend our country, we are determined to see the safe return of the people of the north to their homes, and we will continue to adhere to a simple rule: we will harm those who harm us,” Netanyahu said.
Hagari said the IDF had already intercepted several rockets and drones fired towards Israeli territory.
On August 25, following the IDF’s preemptive strike against Hezbollah, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant met at the Israeli Ministry of Defense. (Israel Government Press Office)
Hagari also warned civilians in southern Lebanon that they were in danger, saying the IDF was aware of Hezbollah firing into Israeli territory near their homes.
Hezbollah issued a statement saying it had launched attacks on Israel and that its military operations were completed for the day.
On August 25, 2024, Israeli Air Force fighter jets fired flares while moving to intercept a hostile aircraft taking off from Lebanon over the border area. (Jallah Marri/AFP via Getty Images)
“With God’s help, all attack drones were launched from their respective positions at the designated time and traveled along multiple routes to their intended targets across the Lebanese-Palestinian border,” the statement said. “Thus, today’s military operation is completed and accomplished. Thanks be to Almighty God.”
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike in Zivkin, southern Lebanon, on August 25, 2024. (Kaunat Hajju/AFP via Getty Images)
“The preemptive strikes taken by the enemy, the objectives they achieved and the claims that they thwarted the resistance’s offensive are empty claims that are contradicted by the facts on the ground and will be refuted in a speech by Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayed Hassan Nasrallah scheduled for later today,” the statement added.
Hezbollah operative killed in Israeli airstrike, terror group fires 100 rockets at Jewish state
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Israeli Foreign Minister Katz on Sunday morning called on dozens of foreign ministers around the world to support Israel after Israel attacked Hezbollah to stop attacks on the Jewish state.
He stressed that the Israeli government was acting to protect its people and territory from what it called an “axis of evil led by Iran that is intent on bringing about Israel’s destruction.” Katz said Israel did not want an all-out war.
“Hezbollah has launched over 150 projectiles from Lebanon into Israeli territory. We are targeting terrorist infrastructure and they are targeting civilians,” the IDF said in a social media post on Sunday morning.
Israeli Defense Minister Gallant declared a 48-hour state of emergency.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke to Gallant about the IDF’s activities after Israel began eliminating Hezbollah targets. The two discussed the importance of avoiding escalating regional tensions, with Gallant emphasizing that Israel is seeking to protect its people by using all means to eliminate imminent threats.
