The Israeli military said it was striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Sunday after claiming the group was planning a “large-scale attack”.
In a statement, the Israeli military accused Hezbollah of “preparing to fire missiles and rockets toward Israeli territory” and warned that that Hezbollah’s actions could lead to wider regional escalation.
“In a self-defence act to remove these threats, the (Israeli military) is striking terror targets in Lebanon, from which Hezbollah was planning to launch their attacks on Israeli civilians,” Israeli military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said.
Rear Adm Hagari warned Hezbollah would “soon fire rockets, and possibly missiles and” drones into Israel. Sirens sounded in northern Israel soon after the warning.
Flights to and from Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv were been suspended, and Israel’s cabinet was to meet at 7am local time (5am UK), Israeli media reported.
Lebanese media reported strikes in the country’s south without immediately providing more details. Social media footage showed what appeared to be strikes in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the strikes.
In his statement, Rear Adm Hagari said, “We can see that Hezbollah is preparing to launch an extensive attack on Israel, while endangering the Lebanese civilians.”
He didn’t provide additional details on the intelligence he cited.
”We warn the civilians located in the areas where Hezbollah is operating to move out of harm’s way immediately for their own safety,” he said.
