Early Sunday morning, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes across southern Lebanon, claiming it was a preemptive measure to prevent a major attack by Hezbollah. The militant group, Hezbollah, immediately responded by firing hundreds of rockets and drones towards Israel, citing the recent killing of a top commander as their motive. By mid-morning, both sides had ceased the heavy exchange of fire, signaling a potential end to the immediate escalation.
The incident coincided with high-level talks in Cairo, hosted by Egypt, aimed at establishing a ceasefire in the 10-month-long Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Diplomats are hopeful these discussions will ease regional tensions. Both Israel and Hezbollah asserted their attacks were focused solely on military targets.
Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, stated that their attack had been delayed to allow for the ceasefire talks. He claimed their target was an Israeli military intelligence base located near Tel Aviv. Hezbollah, like Hamas, receives support from Iran.
The Israeli military reported one fatality and two injuries among their ranks, attributing the casualties to either an interceptor or shrapnel from incoming fire. Hezbollah confirmed the deaths of two of their fighters and a militant from an allied group.
Hezbollah characterized its attack as an initial response to the killing of Fouad Shukur in a recent Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Nasrallah further stated that assaults on Israel would continue, citing the support of allies Iran and Yemen.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the Israeli military had destroyed thousands of rockets intended for northern Israel and successfully intercepted drones targeting the center of the country. “This is not the end of the story,” he cautioned.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog acknowledged the threat remained despite Israel’s actions preventing a major war.
Across northern Israel, air raid sirens blared, leading to the closure of Israel’s international airport and the diversion of flights for an hour. The Israeli Home Front Command later lifted restrictions in most areas.
An Israeli military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, indicated that Hezbollah’s goal was to strike targets in northern and central Israel. While noting that initial assessments indicated minimal damage, he emphasized that the military remained on high alert. Approximately 100 Israeli aircraft participated in the airstrikes.
Hezbollah claimed their attack involved over 320 Katyusha rockets aimed at multiple sites within Israel and a significant number of drones. The group stated the operation targeted a “qualitative Israeli military target,” which will be disclosed later, along with “enemy sites and barracks and Iron Dome (missile defense) platforms.” Hezbollah asserted that the strikes would enable them to launch further attacks deeper into Israel but later announced the completion of their “military operations for today.” They dismissed Israel’s claims of thwarting a larger attack.
Neither Israel nor Hezbollah provided evidence supporting their respective claims.
The tensions had a tangible impact on the lives of ordinary Israelis. In the northern city of Acre, retired teacher Saadia Even Tsur, 76, described his experience of arriving home to find his bedroom damaged after being at the synagogue. “I went up and saw the size of the miracle that happened to me,” he said, noting a broken window and debris on his bed.
Lebanon’s caretaker Economy Minister Amin Salam, following an emergency government meeting, expressed cautious optimism about a de-escalation. “We feel more reassured since both sides confirmed that the expected operations ended,” he said.
The United States closely monitored the situation. Sean Savett, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, confirmed that President Joe Biden was briefed on the developments. The Pentagon reported that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had spoken with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant. General CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is currently on a regional visit encompassing Israel, Egypt, and Jordan.
Experts believe the exchange of fire, while serious, is unlikely to escalate into an all-out war. Randa Slim, a senior fellow at the Washington, D.C.-based Middle East Institute, categorized the exchange as “still within the rules of engagement.” Danny Citrinowicz, an expert at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, suggested that Hezbollah might be seeking to “balance the equation without escalating into war.” Both sides appear to be aiming for a narrative of victory that avoids a wider confrontation.
The escalation between Israel and Hezbollah follows the outbreak of the Gaza war, triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack into southern Israel. Since then, Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire almost daily, displacing tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border.
Hezbollah, known for its 2006 standoff with Israel that ended in a stalemate, is believed to be significantly stronger today. The United States and Israel estimate that the group possesses around 150,000 rockets and has the capability to strike any location within Israel. Hezbollah has also developed drones capable of evading Israeli defenses and precision-guided munitions.
Israel has vowed a forceful response to any major Hezbollah attack. It maintains a comprehensive multi-tiered missile defense system and enjoys the support of a U.S.-led coalition that assisted in the interception of hundreds of missiles and drones launched from Iran earlier this year. In recent weeks, the U.S. military has been bolstering its presence across the region.
Hezbollah is a close ally of Iran, which has also threatened retaliation against Israel for the killing of a senior Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran last month. Israel has not commented on their involvement in the incident.
Iranian state media celebrated the Hezbollah attack as a success, though Iranian officials have yet to make statements.
A ceasefire in Gaza is seen by the U.S. and other mediators as crucial to preventing a wider conflict in the Middle East. Hezbollah has indicated its willingness to halt strikes on Israel if a ceasefire is achieved.
Egypt hosted high-level talks in Cairo on Sunday with the aim of bridging differences regarding a truce proposal and the release of hostages held by Hamas. Participants included CIA director William Burns and David Barnea, head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. Hamas sent a delegation to receive briefings from Egyptian and Qatari mediators but did not directly engage in the negotiations.
