Hezbollah launches ‘first phase’ of retaliatory attacks against Israel after commander’s assassination

BEIRUT (AA) – Lebanese group Hezbollah announced on Sunday that it had launched hundreds of rockets and drones deep into Israel as part of the “first phase” of its response to Tel Aviv’s assassination of its senior commander Fouad Shukr.

In a statement, Hezbollah said that “the first stage of our response to Shukr’s assassination has been successfully completed.”

“The initial phase involved targeting Israeli barracks and sites to facilitate the passage of offensive drones toward their intended targets deep within the Israeli entity,” it added. “These drones have successfully reached their destinations as planned.”

Hezbollah said 11 Israeli military sites were targeted, including the Meron, Zaatoun, Al-Sahl, Nafah, Yarden, and Ein Zeitim bases, as well as the Kela, UF, Ramot Naftali, Neve Ziv, and Zarura camps, all in northern Israel.

The group also claimed that the drone attack coincided with strikes on several Israeli military sites, barracks, and Iron Dome missile defense systems in northern Israel with a large number of rockets.

Israeli media, including Channel 12, reported that air raid sirens were sounding in several cities in northern Israel.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant informed his US counterpart Lloyd Austin by phone that Israeli airstrikes had thwarted Hezbollah’s attacks.

“Minister Gallant and Secretary Austin discussed the importance of avoiding regional escalation,” a defense ministry statement said.

According to Israeli media, Gallant also declared a 48-hour emergency in the country, according to Israeli media.

Since October 8, 2023, Hezbollah has been engaged in daily exchanges of fire with the Israeli army across the Lebanese-Israeli border, resulting in hundreds of casualties, mostly on the Lebanese side.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of Israel’s war on Gaza, in which it has killed over 40,300 Palestinians since last Oct. 7 after a Hamas attack. The military campaign has reduced much of the territory to rubble and left most of the people homeless, hungry and prone to disease.