Hezbollah announced early Sunday that it had launched 11 Katyusha rocket strikes on Israel, following pre-emptive attacks by Israel in Lebanon just hours earlier, according to the Associated Press.
This escalation by Hezbollah was in retaliation for the recent killing of Fouad Shukur, a senior commander within the group, during an Israeli strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs last month. Hezbollah stated that their targets included a “significant Israeli military site” to be disclosed later, alongside several enemy positions, barracks, and Iron Dome platforms.
In response, the Israeli military pre-emptively struck Hezbollah locations in Lebanon, citing intelligence that the group was preparing an attack on Israel. Addressing the residents of southern Lebanon early Sunday morning, the Israeli military warned: “We are closely monitoring Hezbollah’s preparations for large-scale attacks on Israeli territory near your homes. You are in imminent danger. We are actively targeting and neutralizing Hezbollah threats.”
The message, shared via Telegram, urged those living near Hezbollah-operated areas to evacuate immediately for their safety.
Following these developments, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared a 48-hour nationwide state of emergency, labeling it a “special situation on the homefront.” This declaration grants the Israeli military authority to issue directives to citizens, which could include limiting gatherings and closing specific sites.
In a related move, Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport temporarily suspended all flights, halting take-offs and landings for several hours.
These recent military actions could jeopardize ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Cairo, where diplomats are working to secure a truce in Gaza, potentially involving the exchange of Israeli and foreign hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
