The Israeli military says its warplanes have struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after detecting moves to launch an aerial attack on Israel.
Israel said around 100 fighter jets had destroyed “thousands” of rocket launchers in southern Lebanon on Sunday morning, in what it described as an act of “self-defence”.
Hezbollah later fired hundreds of rockets towards northern Israel, calling it “phase one” of a multi-stage attack.
The exchange marks a major escalation of tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed Shia Muslim group.
AFP via Getty ImagesThe Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that it had identified “extensive preparations” for a large-scale aerial attack by Hezbollah, which had prompted it to launch the pre-emptive strikes.
It added that its planes had struck over 40 launch areas, some of which it said were aimed towards central Israel.
Foreign minister Israel Katz said Israel was “acting to protect its citizens and territory” and “does not seek all-out war” in the Middle East.
Israel said Lebanese civilians had been warned to immediately leave areas where Hezbollah was operating.
Lebanon’s public health ministry said the Israeli raids had killed one person in Khiam, with two others injured.
Shortly after the Israeli strikes, Hezbollah said it had launched 320 Katyusha rockets aimed at 11 Israeli military bases and barracks.
It said the attack was in response to last month’s killing of the group’s senior military commander, Fuad Shukr.
EVNwas killed in an Israeli air strike in Lebanon’s capital Beirut in July.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was convening an urgent meeting of his security cabinet.
Mr Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant were “managing the situation” from the IDF’s military base in Tel Aviv.
Israel has been exchanging fire with the Lebanon-based militant group since the start of the war last October with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas, like Hezbollah, is backed by Iran.
