Israeli Bombards Southern Lebanon Following Hezbollah’s Threats of Retaliation
Israeli armed troops struck Hezbollah facilities in southern Lebanon with artillery and air attacks. The targets included important sites including Khiam’s weapons storage facility and Tayibe and Chihine.
This uptick comes after Hezbollah’s communication equipment became the target of several catastrophic bombs that left thousands of people injured and at least 37 dead across Lebanon.
Hassan Nasrallah decries targeting of pagers and walkie-talkies that killed 37, including children, and hurt thousands
Late on Thursday, hours after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah pledged “tough retribution and just punishment” for the series of bombings that attacked the group with explosives concealed in pagers and walkie-talkies, Israeli aeroplanes launched dozens of strikes throughout southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military claimed to have destroyed hundreds of missile launchers that would be put to action “shortly.”
More than 52 attacks were carried out during the shelling in southern Lebanon, according to the official news agency of the nation, NNA. The Reuters news agency was informed by three Lebanese security sources that the aerial attacks were the most intense since the conflict started in October.
As Israeli jets roared over Beirut in a show of force earlier in the day, Nasrallah threatened retribution against Israel “where it expects it and where it does no.
Hezbollah’s Response
In a televised address, Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah condemned the attacks as a declaration of war and promised “harsh retaliation.” He emphasized that the recent bombings represented a significant security failure for Hezbollah but vowed to continue operations against Israel until a ceasefire in Gaza is established. Nasrallah warned that retaliation would occur unexpectedly
The guardians reported that Hezbollah is a keystone member of Iran’s “axis of resistance”, which includes Hamas, the Houthis and other militant groups across the Middle East.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards commander, Hossein Salami, told Nasrallah on Thursday that Israel would face “a crushing response from the axis of resistance”, according to Iranian state media.