Israel says it’s carried out ‘pre-emptive’ airstrikes in Lebanon – as Hezbollah fires back | World News

Israel has launched ‘pre-emptive’ airstrikes in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah, with the militant group saying it has responded by firing drones and hundreds of rockets.

Warning sirens sounded in northern Israel and explosions were heard as the military’s Iron Dome aerial defence system shot down missiles from southern Lebanon.

Flights to and from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport were also suspended – although the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) says it is now safe to re-open.

Sunday’s attack came as Egypt hosts a new round of talks aimed at ending Israel’s war against Hamas, now in its 11th month

In a statement, the IDF accused Hezbollah of “preparing to file missiles and rockets toward Israeli territory”.

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“We conducted pre-emptive trikes after seeing Hezbollah starting to get ready to attack us. We willdo all it takes to protect Israel, ” said Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.

Hezbollah has issued a statement saying it has completed the “first phase” of its attack, after launching 320 Katyusha rockets and hitting 11 Israeli military sites.

The Iran-backed fighting group – designated a terrorist organisation by several countries including the UK – said its attacks were in retaliation for the killing of a top commander last month.

Fuad Shukr died in a strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, previously described Shukr as “one of the most wanted terrorists in the world”.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese National News Agency described “enemy warplanes” causing “severe damage to property, crops, and infrastructure, especially the electricity and water networks”.

The escalation was predicted according to an assessment of Israeli intelligence by the country’s best-connected security correspondents.

Mr Netanyahu held a meeting early on Sunday with members of his cabinet about the attacks.

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin has also spoken with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant.

The Pentagon said he “reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad commitment to Israel’s defence against any attacks by Iran and its regional partners and proxies”.

Hezbollah has said it will halt the fighting if there is a ceasefire in Gaza.

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