Israel strikes suspected Hezbollah missile launch sites after rocket attacks from Lebanon Photo: IDF
Hezbollah fires salvo of rockets to Israel from Lebanon in what he said was the «first response» to the killing of a senior Hamas official in Beirut last week.
The Iran-backed group said it had fired 62 rockets at an air surveillance base on Mt. Meron around 8 a.m. Saturday «as part of the initial response to the assassination of senior leader Saleh al-Arouri and his martyred brothers.»
Warning sirens sounded in northern Israel and attack alert apps sent notifications of incoming attacks.
Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah leader , threatens Israel while paying tribute to slain Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri
Al-Arouri, deputy head of the Hamas politburo, was killed in an Israeli drone strike on Beirut on January 2.
The IDF confirmed it detected at least 40 launches from Lebanon and later struck a terrorist cell involved in the launches.
The IDF base came under fire from Hezbollah rockets, a spokesman told The Telegraph IDF.
No Israeli casualties reported
“There have been no reports of IDF injuries, but we can confirm that the shelling caused damage, but at this time we cannot say how much or what was damaged.” , said the official.
< Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday that the terrorist group would retaliate for Al-Arouri's killing.
They did not specify what further steps they might take after Saturday's attack.
Hezbollah is an ally of Hamas and has been exchanging fire with Israel for the past three months. as a sign of solidarity.
Israel attacks Hezbollah military targets in southern Lebanon. Photo: IDF
The violence has displaced tens of thousands of people in both Israel and Lebanon.
The Hezbollah strike comes as tensions rise along the Israeli border. and Lebanon after the assassination of Al-Arouri.
U.S. and European officials have renewed efforts to diplomatically resolve governance and security issues in southern Lebanon to try to bring calm to both countries.
Israel is demanding full implementation of a long-standing UN resolution requiring Hezbollah fighters to withdraw north of Lebanon's Litani River.
This would essentially create a buffer zone free of Iranian-backed militants that Israel does not want to be present on its northern border.
Hezbollah has already pulled some of its elite Radwan fighters several miles back from the border, Israeli military officials say.
'We will not retreat'< p>But the Lebanese group is unlikely to agree for a complete withdrawal of troops north of the Litani River, which is approximately 18 miles from the border.
A Lebanese official close to Hezbollah told The Telegraph: «Of course we didn't do it. And we won't retreat» [north of Litani].
This happened after Anthony Blinken, the US secretary of state, began a Middle East tour this week, including stops in Israel and the occupied West. Bank.
His trip follows a visit to Israel by White House senior adviser Amos Hochstein. on Thursday in an urgent attempt to prevent another Israeli-Lebanese war.
Israeli officials said they would escalate against Hezbollah if the militants do not withdraw further north.
“ There is only one possible outcome — a new reality in the northern arena that will allow for the safe return of our citizens,” Yoav Gallant, Israel’s Defense Minister, told Mr. Hochstein.
“We will not tolerate the threats posed by the Iranian proxy, Hezbollah, and we will ensure the safety of our citizens,” he added.
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