Hezbollah has launched a large-scale attack on Israeli positions, using over 320 Katyusha rockets and a number of drones, in response to the killing of one of its top commanders, Fuad Shukr.
The group targeted 11 Israeli bases, including sites on the Golan Heights, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing violence between Hezbollah and Israel since the beginning of the Gaza war in October.
Israel, in turn, carried out pre-emptive strikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant declaring a 48-hour nationwide state of emergency due to the potential for civilian attacks.
“The declaration on the state of emergency enables the IDF (Israeli military) to issue instructions to the citizens of Israel, including limiting gatherings and closing sites where it may be relevant,” Gallant said, in a statement issued by his office.
“I am convinced that there is a high probability of an attack against the civilian population in areas of the country where the declaration of a special situation did not apply,” he said, referring to previous local emergency measures.
“I hereby declare a special situation on the home front in other areas of the country. The situation is valid for 48 hours starting at 6:00 am,” Gallant said.
This cross-border violence has already claimed hundreds of lives in Lebanon and Israel, primarily among Hezbollah fighters and Israeli soldiers.
In a separate statement, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant briefed US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin on the current security situation, emphasizing Israel’s efforts to prevent imminent threats by carrying out targeted strikes in Lebanon.
Gallant expressed Israel’s determination to use all available resources to defend its citizens, particularly in light of ongoing tensions with Hezbollah.
Both leaders discussed the critical need to avoid a broader regional escalation, highlighting the importance of maintaining stability amid rising hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which have intensified following the killing of a top Hezbollah commander.
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