While Hezbollah announced that it had launched an attack on Israel, Israel had struck southern Lebanon. Following the declaration of a 48-hour state of emergency in Israel, Israeli Army Spokesman Daniel Hagari called on the Lebanese living south of the Litani River to leave their areas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made some noteworthy statements in his opening speech at the weekly cabinet meeting held today.
Hezbollah in Lebanon claimed that they were successful in their attacks on Israel this morning, while Tel Aviv announced that all of the rockets launched were destroyed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in his opening speech at the weekly cabinet meeting today, “Hezbollah attempted to attack the State of Israel with rockets and drones. We have instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to launch a powerful and preemptive strike to eliminate this threat.”
”ISRAEL IS DEALING SURPRISING AND CRUSHING BLOWS ON HIZBULLAH”
Netanyahu said the IDF destroyed thousands of short-range rockets, adding, “All of these were aimed at harming our citizens and our forces in the Galilee. The IDF also intercepted all the drones that Hezbollah launched at strategic targets in the center of the country.”
In a message to Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Netanyahu said: “Israel is dealing surprising and crushing blows to Hezbollah. Three weeks ago, we eliminated their commander (Fuad Shukr). Today, we thwarted the attack plan. Nasrallah in Beirut and Khamenei in Tehran should know that this is another step towards changing the situation in the north and returning our people safely to their homes. I repeat, this is not the end of the story.”
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Israeli army had announced that it had launched a “preemptive attack” on Lebanon, claiming that Hezbollah was planning to target Israel. Following this, Hezbollah announced that it had launched a retaliatory attack on Israel for the assassination of one of its top commanders, Fuad Shukur, in Beirut on July 30.
Hezbollah said that in the retaliatory attack, Israeli army positions were targeted with 320 rockets as well as a number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The Israeli army claimed that around 100 warplanes participated in the attacks on Lebanon this morning and that 40 of the missile launchers positioned to hit northern and central Israel were hit. (İHA – AA)