Israel launched multiple airstrikes in Lebanon early Sunday, claiming to have foiled a major Hezbollah attack, but the Lebanese movement spoke of a “success” with the firing of hundreds of drones and rockets to avenge the death of one of its leaders. Engaged in a war against Israel in the Gaza Strip for more than ten months, triggered by its unprecedented attack on Israeli soil on October 7, the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas welcomed “the strong response” of Hezbollah, its ally, against Israel. The Israeli army did not report any casualties in the Hezbollah fire and spoke of “minor damage” including fires.
Key information to remember
⇒ Rocket sirens south of Tel Aviv
⇒ Truce in Gaza: Hamas delegation leaves Cairo
⇒ Three dead in Lebanon in Israeli strikes
Hezbollah called its attack a “success.”
Hezbollah called its attack a “success,” presenting it as the “first phase” of the response to the assassination of Fouad Shokr. And its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, called the destruction of thousands of rocket launchers and the interception of numerous projectiles “false allegations” by Israel.
In a statement, Hezbollah said it had launched “a large number of drones” into Israeli territory and fired “more than 320” Katyusha rockets at 11 military bases in Israel and the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan. No military bases were hit in the north or center of the country, according to army spokesman Daniel Hagari.
Hassan Nasrallah said in particular that the “main target of the operation” was “the Glilot base, the main Israeli military intelligence base” “110 km from the border”. Israel indicated that this base had not been hit.
Israeli Navy Soldier Dies
According to the Israeli army, Hezbollah fired “more than 150 projectiles” including several intercepted. The army announced late in the afternoon that a navy soldier had fallen “in combat” in the north of the country, without saying whether his death was linked to the attack.
Rocket sirens south of Tel Aviv
The armed wing of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement at war with Israel in the Gaza Strip, claimed responsibility Sunday evening for firing a rocket at Tel Aviv, with the Israeli army saying the projectile fell on an uninhabited area.
According to the Israeli Home Front, rocket warning sirens sounded around 10:00 p.m. (1900 GMT) in Rishon LeZion, a city south of Tel Aviv. “A projectile identified as coming from the Gaza Strip fell on an uninhabited area in the Rishon LeZion area,” the Israeli army said.
Three dead in Lebanon in Israeli strikes
In southern Lebanon, authorities reported three deaths in Israeli strikes. They were three fighters, according to Hezbollah and the allied Amal movement. The UN in Lebanon called on both sides to “cease fire.”
After the escalation, dozens of flights were cancelled at Tel Aviv and Beirut airports, and others were delayed. Air France said it had suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut until “at least” Monday.
Hamas delegation leaves Cairo
A new round of talks on a Gaza truce began Thursday in the Egyptian capital, attended by Israeli intelligence chiefs, CIA Director William Burns, and Egyptian and Qatari intelligence chiefs.
A Hamas delegation left the Egyptian capital on Sunday evening where it “met with Egyptian and Qatari mediators,” according to a Hamas official.
Three dead in Gaza City
On Sunday, Israeli strikes left three dead in Gaza City (north) and fighting broke out between the army and Hamas in Deir al-Balah (center), according to rescuers.
“Stop the war! This is not an ordinary war. This is not a battle between two armies, but a war of extermination,” said Mohammed Abou Aoun, a resident of Deir al-Balah.
Jordan appeals to UN Security Council
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Sunday called on the UN Security Council to take “deterrent” measures against Benjamin Netanyahu and his ministers who “kill all chances of achieving peace.”