CAIRO, Aug 25 (Reuters) – Hezbollah said on Sunday it had completed the “first phase” of its response to Israel’s killing of the group’s top commander in a strike on a Beirut suburb last month. Hezbollah added that it had hit 11 Israeli military sites, fired more than 320 rockets and sent drones flying into northern Israel on Sunday.
Hezbollah’s attack was widely expected and the group had warned of an attack for weeks. The warnings came as Iran also said it would retaliate for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. It was expected that Iran and Hezbollah might even coordinate attacks. Due to the conflict, commercial airlines had cancelled flights to Israel in August, and Israel was put on alert. On Sunday morning the IDF struck and destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers, which may have prevented a wider Hezbollah attack.
Israel strikes more Hezbollah targets in Lebanon
Israel’s military targeted more Hezbollah rocket launchers in southern Lebanon, hours after an initial pre-emptive strike. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated they hit launchers in multiple locations to address the threat from the group. Israel prepared for a potential response from Hezbollah and declared a 48-hour state of emergency.