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The fear of an all-out war / What is happening between Israel and Hezbollah

2024-08-26 08:45:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Israeli authorities have announced that they have carried out a wave of pre-emptive strikes across southern Lebanon to thwart a large-scale rocket and drone attack by Hezbollah.

The planes destroyed thousands of rocket launchers belonging to the Iran-backed armed group on Sunday morning, the Israeli military said. Hezbollah and its Amal allies said three fighters were killed.

Hezbollah said it still managed to launch 320 rockets and drones into Israel in retaliation for the killing of a top commander. According to the Israeli army, an Israeli navy soldier was killed.

The United States says it is working to avoid any further escalation after 10 months of hostilities that have raised fears of an all-out war.

There have been almost daily exchanges of fire along the Israel-Lebanon border since the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza began on October 7.

There was no progress in the latest round of US-backed Gaza peace talks in Cairo.

Hezbollah has said it is acting in support of the Palestinian group, which is also backed by Iran. Both Hamas and Hezbollah are banned as terrorist organizations by Israel, the UK and other countries.

ATTACKS

Israel's attack on Hezbollah around 04:30 on Sunday was the biggest since the full-scale war between them in 2006.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said around 100 warplanes had "hit and destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers" in more than 40 areas of southern Lebanon.

The attacks continued after "extensive preparation" for a large-scale airstrike by Hezbollah was discovered, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said.

Lebanon's National News Agency reported that Israeli jets had hit Beaufort Castle, the Bir Kalb area and the suburbs of Ain Qana, Kfar Fila, Louaizeh, Bsalia, Kfar Melki, Sajd and Sarba.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz said he had told dozens of his counterparts around the world that Israel "does not seek a full-scale war" but would "do whatever it takes to protect our citizens."

Not long after the Israeli strikes, Hezbollah said it had targeted and hit 11 Israeli military facilities in Israel and the occupied Golan Heights with more than 320 Katyusha rockets.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised address on Sunday evening that the group had targeted a military intelligence base about 110 km (68 miles) into Israeli territory, which was just 1.5 km (0.9 miles) from Tel Aviv.

On the other hand, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati - whose government has little influence over Hezbollah - said he was "maintaining a series of contacts with friends of Lebanon to stop the escalation".

He called for a halt to "Israeli aggression" and the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 war.

Mikati also emphasized Lebanon's support for international efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and a deal to release hostages between Israel and Hamas.

The US sees a deal as key to easing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, as Hezbollah has said it will stop hostilities only after fighting in Gaza ends./ Translated by the BBC.