Israel Launches Pre-Emptive Strike on Hezbollah Positions in Lebanon, Hundreds of Rockets and Drones Fired in Response
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalated over the weekend as Israel launched a large-scale pre-emptive strike on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon on Sunday. The militant group responded by firing hundreds of rockets and drones across the border, sparking fears of a regional war.
The strike, the most significant in over 10 months of cross-border warfare, came parallel to Israel’s counterattack in Gaza. Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said the group’s attack had been delayed to give the Gaza ceasefire talks a chance, as announced by the Americans.
At least three people were killed in the strikes on Lebanon, with no reported casualties in Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attack as “not the end of the story.” By mid-morning, the exchange between both sides had come to an end, with claims that only military targets had been struck.
The United States is closely monitoring the situation, with President Joe Biden receiving briefings on the developments. In an effort to broker a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, high-level talks were held in Egypt, but no agreement was reached.
Hezbollah’s attack was a response to Israel’s killing of one of its top commanders in Beirut last month. The incident is sparking fears that the conflict could draw in Hezbollah’s backer, Iran, as well as the United States, which is Israel’s main ally.
As the situation remains tense, analysts warn that the conflict could spiral into a full-blown war. An anonymous US official stated that talks will continue at lower levels in the coming days to bridge the remaining gaps.
