(Times Of Israel) Israeli fighter jets simultaneously struck thousands of Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon early Sunday morning, in what the military said was a preemptive operation against weaponry that was about to be used in a major attack on central and northern Israel.
Thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers were struck simultaneously by some 100 IAF fighter jets in the preemptive attacks, the military said.
While central Israel, including Tel Aviv, was in the terror group’s crosshairs, the majority of the Hezbollah rocket launchers struck by the Israeli Air Force were aimed at the north, according to the IDF.
The strikes did not prevent the Iran-backed terror organization from beginning what it said was its response to the killing of its military commander Fuad Shukr in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut last month, with Hezbollah claiming it fired over 320 rockets and drones at northern Israel.
According to the IDF, some 210 rockets and some 20 drones were launched from Lebanon at northern Israel in Hezbollah’s attack. Some of the projectiles were intercepted, while others impacted, causing damage and injuries. Many rockets also struck open areas.
The Israel Defense Forces said it had identified overnight preparations in Hezbollah’s rocket array for a major and immediate attack on Israel. Fighter jets began to “remove the threat” shortly before 5 a.m.
The preemptive strikes specifically targeted the sites in southern Lebanon that would have been used in the attack, according to the IDF.
The New York Times first reported the strikes targeted launchers primed to fire in the direction of Tel Aviv at 5 a.m.
The IDF believed the attack would have been part of Hezbollah’s response to the killing of Shukr. Hezbollah itself later confirmed to have begun its response to the killing of its top commander, but did not mention the IDF’s preemptive strikes.
Hezbollah said it fired more than 320 rockets at northern Israel early Sunday morning along with several explosive-laden drones. The launches came after the IDF’s strikes.
In a statement, Hezbollah claimed to have targeted 11 military bases in northern Israel.
A video circulating online showed a Hezbollah drone impacting a highway in the north.
Footage circulating on social media shows a Hezbollah drone impacting a highway in northern Israel. pic.twitter.com/7ivd4xvlg0
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