The Israeli military launched what it called preemptive strikes in Lebanon against the militant group Hezbollah early Sunday morning, ratcheting already elevated tensions that could tip into a full-on regional war even as efforts continue to forge a cease-fire in Gaza.
The strikes, which began before 5 a.m. local time, hit areas in Lebanon’s south, where Hezbollah has for more than 10 months engaged in an escalating tit-for-tat fight with Israel. Hezbollah has also vowed to avenge the death of its senior military commander, Fuad Shukr, whom Israel assassinated in an airstrike on the Lebanese capital last month.
In a statement, the Israeli army said Hezbollah was “preparing to fire missiles and rockets toward Israeli territory. In response to these threats, the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] is striking terror targets in Lebanon.”
The effect of the strikes remained unclear Sunday early morning, but Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said that two people were injured and that strikes had caused extensive damage to water and electricity infrastructure in towns in south Lebanon.
Israel declared a state of emergency for 48 hours and temporarily suspended flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Inernational Airport before restarting operations at 7 a.m. Air raid sirens blared across Israel’s north.
Hezbollah responded with a barrage of some 320 Katyusha rockets, targeting what it described as 11 military sites in Israel’s north in an initial phase of its response. It also said it launched drones targeting “a qualitative Israeli military target that will be announced later.”
“These military operations will take some time to complete, after which a detailed statement will be issued on their proceedings and goals,” Hezbollah said in a statement, adding that the group “was at its highest readiness.”
The Israeli military sent a message on the Telegram app to residents in south Lebanon early Sunday morning, warning that they are “in danger” and that “we are attacking and eliminating Hezbollah threats.”
“Anyone who is near areas where Hezbollah operates should leave immediately to protect themselves and their families,” the message said.
The region has been on edge since the back-to-back assassinations last month of Shukr and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in a blast in Tehran for which Israel denies responsibility. Many fear a region-wide conflagration that would pit the U.S. in a fight against Iran.
Shukr’s assassination came after 12 youngsters were killed in a missile strike on Majdal Shams, a town in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel blamed Hezbollah for the strike; Hezbollah denied the claim.
Last week, the U.S. spearheaded a push for negotiations in the hope of creating a cease-fire in Gaza that would mollify Hezbollah and Iran. Negotiators are set to meet in Cairo in the coming days, even as Israel has forged ahead with its onslaught on the enclave, where more than 40,000 people have been killed, Palestinian health authorities say.
A wider confrontation with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite Islamist group that is part of an alliance with Hamas, would plunge Israel into a multi-front war with an adversary many times stronger than Hamas. Hezbollah has developed an arsenal of some 150,000 rockets, missiles and drones.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in a phone call with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, said that “we are closely following developments in Beirut,” according to a readout.
“We are determined to use all the means at our disposal in order to defend our citizens.”
Austin reaffirmed the United States’ “ironclad commitment to Israel’s defense against any attacks by Iran and its regional partners and proxies,” according to a Pentagon statement.
The Israeli military launched what it called preemptive strikes in Lebanon against the militant group Hezbollah early Sunday morning, ratcheting already elevated tensions that could tip into a full-on regional war even as efforts continue to forge a cease-fire in Gaza.
The strikes, which began before 5 a.m. local time, hit areas in Lebanon’s south, where Hezbollah has for more than 10 months engaged in an escalating tit-for-tat fight with Israel. Hezbollah has also vowed to avenge the death of its senior military commander, Fuad Shukr, whom Israel assassinated in an airstrike on the Lebanese capital last month.
In a statement, the Israeli army said Hezbollah was “preparing to fire missiles and rockets toward Israeli territory. In response to these threats, the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] is striking terror targets in Lebanon.”
The effect of the strikes remained unclear Sunday early morning, but Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said that two people were injured and that strikes had caused extensive damage to water and electricity infrastructure in towns in south Lebanon.
Israel declared a state of emergency for 48 hours and temporarily suspended flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Inernational Airport before restarting operations at 7 a.m. Air raid sirens blared across Israel’s north.
Hezbollah responded with a barrage of some 320 Katyusha rockets, targeting what it described as 11 military sites in Israel’s north in an initial phase of its response. It also said it launched drones targeting “a qualitative Israeli military target that will be announced later.”
“These military operations will take some time to complete, after which a detailed statement will be issued on their proceedings and goals,” Hezbollah said in a statement, adding that the group “was at its highest readiness.”
The Israeli military sent a message on the Telegram app to residents in south Lebanon early Sunday morning, warning that they are “in danger” and that “we are attacking and eliminating Hezbollah threats.”
“Anyone who is near areas where Hezbollah operates should leave immediately to protect themselves and their families,” the message said.
The region has been on edge since the back-to-back assassinations last month of Shukr and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in a blast in Tehran for which Israel denies responsibility. Many fear a region-wide conflagration that would pit the U.S. in a fight against Iran.
Shukr’s assassination came after 12 youngsters were killed in a missile strike on Majdal Shams, a town in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel blamed Hezbollah for the strike; Hezbollah denied the claim.
Last week, the U.S. spearheaded a push for negotiations in the hope of creating a cease-fire in Gaza that would mollify Hezbollah and Iran. Negotiators are set to meet in Cairo in the coming days, even as Israel has forged ahead with its onslaught on the enclave, where more than 40,000 people have been killed, Palestinian health authorities say.
A wider confrontation with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite Islamist group that is part of an alliance with Hamas, would plunge Israel into a multi-front war with an adversary many times stronger than Hamas. Hezbollah has developed an arsenal of some 150,000 rockets, missiles and drones.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in a phone call with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, said that “we are closely following developments in Beirut,” according to a readout.
“We are determined to use all the means at our disposal in order to defend our citizens.”
Austin reaffirmed the United States’ “ironclad commitment to Israel’s defense against any attacks by Iran and its regional partners and proxies,” according to a Pentagon statement.
The Israeli military launched what it called preemptive strikes in Lebanon against the militant group Hezbollah early Sunday morning, ratcheting already elevated tensions that could tip into a full-on regional war even as efforts continue to forge a cease-fire in Gaza.
The strikes, which began before 5 a.m. local time, hit areas in Lebanon’s south, where Hezbollah has for more than 10 months engaged in an escalating tit-for-tat fight with Israel. Hezbollah has also vowed to avenge the death of its senior military commander, Fuad Shukr, whom Israel assassinated in an airstrike on the Lebanese capital last month.
In a statement, the Israeli army said Hezbollah was “preparing to fire missiles and rockets toward Israeli territory. In response to these threats, the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] is striking terror targets in Lebanon.”
The effect of the strikes remained unclear Sunday early morning, but Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said that two people were injured and that strikes had caused extensive damage to water and electricity infrastructure in towns in south Lebanon.
Israel declared a state of emergency for 48 hours and temporarily suspended flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Inernational Airport before restarting operations at 7 a.m. Air raid sirens blared across Israel’s north.
Hezbollah responded with a barrage of some 320 Katyusha rockets, targeting what it described as 11 military sites in Israel’s north in an initial phase of its response. It also said it launched drones targeting “a qualitative Israeli military target that will be announced later.”
“These military operations will take some time to complete, after which a detailed statement will be issued on their proceedings and goals,” Hezbollah said in a statement, adding that the group “was at its highest readiness.”
The Israeli military sent a message on the Telegram app to residents in south Lebanon early Sunday morning, warning that they are “in danger” and that “we are attacking and eliminating Hezbollah threats.”
“Anyone who is near areas where Hezbollah operates should leave immediately to protect themselves and their families,” the message said.
The region has been on edge since the back-to-back assassinations last month of Shukr and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in a blast in Tehran for which Israel denies responsibility. Many fear a region-wide conflagration that would pit the U.S. in a fight against Iran.
Shukr’s assassination came after 12 youngsters were killed in a missile strike on Majdal Shams, a town in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel blamed Hezbollah for the strike; Hezbollah denied the claim.
Last week, the U.S. spearheaded a push for negotiations in the hope of creating a cease-fire in Gaza that would mollify Hezbollah and Iran. Negotiators are set to meet in Cairo in the coming days, even as Israel has forged ahead with its onslaught on the enclave, where more than 40,000 people have been killed, Palestinian health authorities say.
A wider confrontation with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite Islamist group that is part of an alliance with Hamas, would plunge Israel into a multi-front war with an adversary many times stronger than Hamas. Hezbollah has developed an arsenal of some 150,000 rockets, missiles and drones.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in a phone call with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, said that “we are closely following developments in Beirut,” according to a readout.
“We are determined to use all the means at our disposal in order to defend our citizens.”
Austin reaffirmed the United States’ “ironclad commitment to Israel’s defense against any attacks by Iran and its regional partners and proxies,” according to a Pentagon statement.
The Israeli military launched what it called preemptive strikes in Lebanon against the militant group Hezbollah early Sunday morning, ratcheting already elevated tensions that could tip into a full-on regional war even as efforts continue to forge a cease-fire in Gaza.
The strikes, which began before 5 a.m. local time, hit areas in Lebanon’s south, where Hezbollah has for more than 10 months engaged in an escalating tit-for-tat fight with Israel. Hezbollah has also vowed to avenge the death of its senior military commander, Fuad Shukr, whom Israel assassinated in an airstrike on the Lebanese capital last month.
In a statement, the Israeli army said Hezbollah was “preparing to fire missiles and rockets toward Israeli territory. In response to these threats, the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] is striking terror targets in Lebanon.”
The effect of the strikes remained unclear Sunday early morning, but Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said that two people were injured and that strikes had caused extensive damage to water and electricity infrastructure in towns in south Lebanon.
Israel declared a state of emergency for 48 hours and temporarily suspended flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Inernational Airport before restarting operations at 7 a.m. Air raid sirens blared across Israel’s north.
Hezbollah responded with a barrage of some 320 Katyusha rockets, targeting what it described as 11 military sites in Israel’s north in an initial phase of its response. It also said it launched drones targeting “a qualitative Israeli military target that will be announced later.”
“These military operations will take some time to complete, after which a detailed statement will be issued on their proceedings and goals,” Hezbollah said in a statement, adding that the group “was at its highest readiness.”
The Israeli military sent a message on the Telegram app to residents in south Lebanon early Sunday morning, warning that they are “in danger” and that “we are attacking and eliminating Hezbollah threats.”
“Anyone who is near areas where Hezbollah operates should leave immediately to protect themselves and their families,” the message said.
The region has been on edge since the back-to-back assassinations last month of Shukr and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in a blast in Tehran for which Israel denies responsibility. Many fear a region-wide conflagration that would pit the U.S. in a fight against Iran.
Shukr’s assassination came after 12 youngsters were killed in a missile strike on Majdal Shams, a town in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel blamed Hezbollah for the strike; Hezbollah denied the claim.
Last week, the U.S. spearheaded a push for negotiations in the hope of creating a cease-fire in Gaza that would mollify Hezbollah and Iran. Negotiators are set to meet in Cairo in the coming days, even as Israel has forged ahead with its onslaught on the enclave, where more than 40,000 people have been killed, Palestinian health authorities say.
A wider confrontation with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite Islamist group that is part of an alliance with Hamas, would plunge Israel into a multi-front war with an adversary many times stronger than Hamas. Hezbollah has developed an arsenal of some 150,000 rockets, missiles and drones.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in a phone call with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, said that “we are closely following developments in Beirut,” according to a readout.
“We are determined to use all the means at our disposal in order to defend our citizens.”
Austin reaffirmed the United States’ “ironclad commitment to Israel’s defense against any attacks by Iran and its regional partners and proxies,” according to a Pentagon statement.
The Israeli military launched what it called preemptive strikes in Lebanon against the militant group Hezbollah early Sunday morning, ratcheting already elevated tensions that could tip into a full-on regional war even as efforts continue to forge a cease-fire in Gaza.
The strikes, which began before 5 a.m. local time, hit areas in Lebanon’s south, where Hezbollah has for more than 10 months engaged in an escalating tit-for-tat fight with Israel. Hezbollah has also vowed to avenge the death of its senior military commander, Fuad Shukr, whom Israel assassinated in an airstrike on the Lebanese capital last month.
In a statement, the Israeli army said Hezbollah was “preparing to fire missiles and rockets toward Israeli territory. In response to these threats, the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] is striking terror targets in Lebanon.”
The effect of the strikes remained unclear Sunday early morning, but Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said that two people were injured and that strikes had caused extensive damage to water and electricity infrastructure in towns in south Lebanon.
Israel declared a state of emergency for 48 hours and temporarily suspended flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Inernational Airport before restarting operations at 7 a.m. Air raid sirens blared across Israel’s north.
Hezbollah responded with a barrage of some 320 Katyusha rockets, targeting what it described as 11 military sites in Israel’s north in an initial phase of its response. It also said it launched drones targeting “a qualitative Israeli military target that will be announced later.”
“These military operations will take some time to complete, after which a detailed statement will be issued on their proceedings and goals,” Hezbollah said in a statement, adding that the group “was at its highest readiness.”
The Israeli military sent a message on the Telegram app to residents in south Lebanon early Sunday morning, warning that they are “in danger” and that “we are attacking and eliminating Hezbollah threats.”
“Anyone who is near areas where Hezbollah operates should leave immediately to protect themselves and their families,” the message said.
The region has been on edge since the back-to-back assassinations last month of Shukr and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in a blast in Tehran for which Israel denies responsibility. Many fear a region-wide conflagration that would pit the U.S. in a fight against Iran.
Shukr’s assassination came after 12 youngsters were killed in a missile strike on Majdal Shams, a town in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel blamed Hezbollah for the strike; Hezbollah denied the claim.
Last week, the U.S. spearheaded a push for negotiations in the hope of creating a cease-fire in Gaza that would mollify Hezbollah and Iran. Negotiators are set to meet in Cairo in the coming days, even as Israel has forged ahead with its onslaught on the enclave, where more than 40,000 people have been killed, Palestinian health authorities say.
A wider confrontation with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite Islamist group that is part of an alliance with Hamas, would plunge Israel into a multi-front war with an adversary many times stronger than Hamas. Hezbollah has developed an arsenal of some 150,000 rockets, missiles and drones.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in a phone call with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, said that “we are closely following developments in Beirut,” according to a readout.
“We are determined to use all the means at our disposal in order to defend our citizens.”
Austin reaffirmed the United States’ “ironclad commitment to Israel’s defense against any attacks by Iran and its regional partners and proxies,” according to a Pentagon statement.
The Israeli military launched what it called preemptive strikes in Lebanon against the militant group Hezbollah early Sunday morning, ratcheting already elevated tensions that could tip into a full-on regional war even as efforts continue to forge a cease-fire in Gaza.
The strikes, which began before 5 a.m. local time, hit areas in Lebanon’s south, where Hezbollah has for more than 10 months engaged in an escalating tit-for-tat fight with Israel. Hezbollah has also vowed to avenge the death of its senior military commander, Fuad Shukr, whom Israel assassinated in an airstrike on the Lebanese capital last month.
In a statement, the Israeli army said Hezbollah was “preparing to fire missiles and rockets toward Israeli territory. In response to these threats, the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] is striking terror targets in Lebanon.”
The effect of the strikes remained unclear Sunday early morning, but Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said that two people were injured and that strikes had caused extensive damage to water and electricity infrastructure in towns in south Lebanon.
Israel declared a state of emergency for 48 hours and temporarily suspended flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Inernational Airport before restarting operations at 7 a.m. Air raid sirens blared across Israel’s north.
Hezbollah responded with a barrage of some 320 Katyusha rockets, targeting what it described as 11 military sites in Israel’s north in an initial phase of its response. It also said it launched drones targeting “a qualitative Israeli military target that will be announced later.”
“These military operations will take some time to complete, after which a detailed statement will be issued on their proceedings and goals,” Hezbollah said in a statement, adding that the group “was at its highest readiness.”
The Israeli military sent a message on the Telegram app to residents in south Lebanon early Sunday morning, warning that they are “in danger” and that “we are attacking and eliminating Hezbollah threats.”
“Anyone who is near areas where Hezbollah operates should leave immediately to protect themselves and their families,” the message said.
The region has been on edge since the back-to-back assassinations last month of Shukr and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in a blast in Tehran for which Israel denies responsibility. Many fear a region-wide conflagration that would pit the U.S. in a fight against Iran.
Shukr’s assassination came after 12 youngsters were killed in a missile strike on Majdal Shams, a town in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel blamed Hezbollah for the strike; Hezbollah denied the claim.
Last week, the U.S. spearheaded a push for negotiations in the hope of creating a cease-fire in Gaza that would mollify Hezbollah and Iran. Negotiators are set to meet in Cairo in the coming days, even as Israel has forged ahead with its onslaught on the enclave, where more than 40,000 people have been killed, Palestinian health authorities say.
A wider confrontation with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite Islamist group that is part of an alliance with Hamas, would plunge Israel into a multi-front war with an adversary many times stronger than Hamas. Hezbollah has developed an arsenal of some 150,000 rockets, missiles and drones.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in a phone call with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, said that “we are closely following developments in Beirut,” according to a readout.
“We are determined to use all the means at our disposal in order to defend our citizens.”
Austin reaffirmed the United States’ “ironclad commitment to Israel’s defense against any attacks by Iran and its regional partners and proxies,” according to a Pentagon statement.
The Israeli military launched what it called preemptive strikes in Lebanon against the militant group Hezbollah early Sunday morning, ratcheting already elevated tensions that could tip into a full-on regional war even as efforts continue to forge a cease-fire in Gaza.
The strikes, which began before 5 a.m. local time, hit areas in Lebanon’s south, where Hezbollah has for more than 10 months engaged in an escalating tit-for-tat fight with Israel. Hezbollah has also vowed to avenge the death of its senior military commander, Fuad Shukr, whom Israel assassinated in an airstrike on the Lebanese capital last month.
In a statement, the Israeli army said Hezbollah was “preparing to fire missiles and rockets toward Israeli territory. In response to these threats, the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] is striking terror targets in Lebanon.”
The effect of the strikes remained unclear Sunday early morning, but Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said that two people were injured and that strikes had caused extensive damage to water and electricity infrastructure in towns in south Lebanon.
Israel declared a state of emergency for 48 hours and temporarily suspended flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Inernational Airport before restarting operations at 7 a.m. Air raid sirens blared across Israel’s north.
Hezbollah responded with a barrage of some 320 Katyusha rockets, targeting what it described as 11 military sites in Israel’s north in an initial phase of its response. It also said it launched drones targeting “a qualitative Israeli military target that will be announced later.”
“These military operations will take some time to complete, after which a detailed statement will be issued on their proceedings and goals,” Hezbollah said in a statement, adding that the group “was at its highest readiness.”
The Israeli military sent a message on the Telegram app to residents in south Lebanon early Sunday morning, warning that they are “in danger” and that “we are attacking and eliminating Hezbollah threats.”
“Anyone who is near areas where Hezbollah operates should leave immediately to protect themselves and their families,” the message said.
The region has been on edge since the back-to-back assassinations last month of Shukr and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in a blast in Tehran for which Israel denies responsibility. Many fear a region-wide conflagration that would pit the U.S. in a fight against Iran.
Shukr’s assassination came after 12 youngsters were killed in a missile strike on Majdal Shams, a town in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel blamed Hezbollah for the strike; Hezbollah denied the claim.
Last week, the U.S. spearheaded a push for negotiations in the hope of creating a cease-fire in Gaza that would mollify Hezbollah and Iran. Negotiators are set to meet in Cairo in the coming days, even as Israel has forged ahead with its onslaught on the enclave, where more than 40,000 people have been killed, Palestinian health authorities say.
A wider confrontation with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite Islamist group that is part of an alliance with Hamas, would plunge Israel into a multi-front war with an adversary many times stronger than Hamas. Hezbollah has developed an arsenal of some 150,000 rockets, missiles and drones.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in a phone call with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, said that “we are closely following developments in Beirut,” according to a readout.
“We are determined to use all the means at our disposal in order to defend our citizens.”
Austin reaffirmed the United States’ “ironclad commitment to Israel’s defense against any attacks by Iran and its regional partners and proxies,” according to a Pentagon statement.
The Israeli military launched what it called preemptive strikes in Lebanon against the militant group Hezbollah early Sunday morning, ratcheting already elevated tensions that could tip into a full-on regional war even as efforts continue to forge a cease-fire in Gaza.
The strikes, which began before 5 a.m. local time, hit areas in Lebanon’s south, where Hezbollah has for more than 10 months engaged in an escalating tit-for-tat fight with Israel. Hezbollah has also vowed to avenge the death of its senior military commander, Fuad Shukr, whom Israel assassinated in an airstrike on the Lebanese capital last month.
In a statement, the Israeli army said Hezbollah was “preparing to fire missiles and rockets toward Israeli territory. In response to these threats, the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] is striking terror targets in Lebanon.”
The effect of the strikes remained unclear Sunday early morning, but Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said that two people were injured and that strikes had caused extensive damage to water and electricity infrastructure in towns in south Lebanon.
Israel declared a state of emergency for 48 hours and temporarily suspended flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Inernational Airport before restarting operations at 7 a.m. Air raid sirens blared across Israel’s north.
Hezbollah responded with a barrage of some 320 Katyusha rockets, targeting what it described as 11 military sites in Israel’s north in an initial phase of its response. It also said it launched drones targeting “a qualitative Israeli military target that will be announced later.”
“These military operations will take some time to complete, after which a detailed statement will be issued on their proceedings and goals,” Hezbollah said in a statement, adding that the group “was at its highest readiness.”
The Israeli military sent a message on the Telegram app to residents in south Lebanon early Sunday morning, warning that they are “in danger” and that “we are attacking and eliminating Hezbollah threats.”
“Anyone who is near areas where Hezbollah operates should leave immediately to protect themselves and their families,” the message said.
The region has been on edge since the back-to-back assassinations last month of Shukr and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in a blast in Tehran for which Israel denies responsibility. Many fear a region-wide conflagration that would pit the U.S. in a fight against Iran.
Shukr’s assassination came after 12 youngsters were killed in a missile strike on Majdal Shams, a town in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel blamed Hezbollah for the strike; Hezbollah denied the claim.
Last week, the U.S. spearheaded a push for negotiations in the hope of creating a cease-fire in Gaza that would mollify Hezbollah and Iran. Negotiators are set to meet in Cairo in the coming days, even as Israel has forged ahead with its onslaught on the enclave, where more than 40,000 people have been killed, Palestinian health authorities say.
A wider confrontation with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite Islamist group that is part of an alliance with Hamas, would plunge Israel into a multi-front war with an adversary many times stronger than Hamas. Hezbollah has developed an arsenal of some 150,000 rockets, missiles and drones.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in a phone call with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, said that “we are closely following developments in Beirut,” according to a readout.
“We are determined to use all the means at our disposal in order to defend our citizens.”
Austin reaffirmed the United States’ “ironclad commitment to Israel’s defense against any attacks by Iran and its regional partners and proxies,” according to a Pentagon statement.
