Israel launched airstrikes inside Lebanon early Sunday, targeting positions of the Iran-backed Islamist group, its military said. militant group Hezbollah.
In a statement, the Israeli army accused Hezbollah of “preparing to launch missiles and rockets towards Israeli territory.”
“In an act of self-defense to eliminate these threats, (the Israeli army) is striking terrorist targets in Lebanon, from where Hezbollah planned to launch its attacks against Israeli civilians,” said Israeli army spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.
Hagari warned that “Hezbollah will soon fire rockets, and possibly missiles and drones, toward Israeli territory.” Sirens sounded in northern Israel shortly after the warning.
The Israel Airports Authority also announced that it had temporarily suspended flights to and from Ben Gurion International Airport. Flights already en route to the airport were diverted to other airports.
Lebanese media reported strikes in the south of the country without immediately providing further details. Images posted on social media showed what appeared to be strikes in southern Lebanon.
ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images
In his statement, Hagari said: “We can see that Hezbollah is preparing to launch a large-scale attack against Israel, while endangering Lebanese civilians.”
Hagari did not provide further details on the information he cited.
“We warn civilians in areas where Hezbollah operates to immediately move away from the danger for their own safety,” he said.
Fears have been high for several weeks that the War between Israel and Hamas Situation in Gaza Strip could escalate into regional conflict after Israeli strike killed a senior Hezbollah commander and a suspected Israeli assassination operation in Iran killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
