The Times of Israel is liveblogging Saturday’s events as they happen.
Report: US hopes intensified Israeli military pressure will push Hezbollah to diplomatic solution, not all-out war
US officials are hoping that intensified Israeli military pressure on Hezbollah in Lebanon will push the Iran-backed terror group to come to a diplomatic agreement to allow civilians on both sides to return to their homes after almost a year of cross-border fighting, Axios reports.
The report says that while the US officials agree with their Israeli counterparts that recent strikes on Hezbollah aim to reach “de-escalation through escalation,” they are concerned that this is an “extremely difficult calibration” that could easily spark an all-out war.
“One of the key messages was that we want to keep a path open to a diplomatic resolution and therefore don’t want the Israelis to take steps that will close such a path,” one of the US officials is quoted as saying.
Both US and Israeli officials quoted in the report say that the Biden administration has asked Jerusalem to hold off from a ground invasion or airstrikes in civilian areas that are likely to escalate the conflict.
The report comes after a wave of IDF strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon today, including launchers primed for attack, and after the terror group fired at least 10 rockets at northern Israel a short while ago, triggering sirens across the Jezreel Valley for the first time since the beginning of the war in October.
Hezbollah-affiliated media reports more IDF strikes in southern Lebanon
Israeli fighter jets are carrying out more strikes in southern Lebanon, according to Hezbollah-affiliated outlet Al Mayadeen, after the terror group fired at least 10 rockets deep into northern Israel, triggering sirens in dozens of towns and cities.
The IDF says most of the rockets were intercepted by air defenses, and medics say one man was lightly injured by shrapnel in the barrage.
There is no immediate comment on the reported new strikes from the Israel Defense Forces.
IDF fighter jets carried out a series of strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon in the afternoon and evening after the military said it had identified preparations by the terror group to launch major rocket attacks against Israel.
Hezbollah takes responsibility for rocket barrage on Jezreel Valley, claiming to have targeted IAF base
Hezbollah takes responsibility for the rocket fire on the Jezreel Valley a short while ago, claiming to have targeted the Israeli Air Force’s Ramat David Airbase, located some 50 kilometers from the Lebanon border.
The terror group claims to have launched dozens of rockets at the airbase, though according to the IDF, only 10 projectiles crossed the border, the majority of which were intercepted.
Hezbollah says the rocket attack comes as a response to recent IDF strikes in Lebanon.
Northern Israel now: Crazy rocket interceptions ongoing.
View appears to be from the bay at Haifa. ????
Iron Dome, do your job ???? pic.twitter.com/Z5QjidDBQE— Leslie Young ✡︎ (@AkaLazarus) September 21, 2024
IDF: Majority of 10 rockets fired from Lebanon at Jezreel Valley downed by air defenses
The IDF says the majority of the 10 rockets fired from Lebanon at the Jezreel Valley were intercepted by air defenses.
The military says it is investigating at least one rocket impact in the area.
One man in his 60s was very lightly injured by shrapnel following an interception, according to medics.
The attack marks Hezbollah’s deepest rocket fire into Israel since the beginning of the war in October.