‘Missiles hidden in attics’: IDF targets Hezbollah arsenals in Lebanese homes

The Israeli military publishes evidence of Hezbollah weapons hidden in Lebanese homes, as 1600 strikes by the IDF kill nearly 500 people in the deadliest day of conflict since the 2006 war

A Hezbollah missile system ready to launch from the attic of a home in the southern Lebanon village of Houmine al-Tahta. Picture: Israel Defence Forces

The Israeli military has published what it says is evidence of Hezbollah weapons hidden in Lebanese homes, after an unprecedented wave of Israeli air strikes killed nearly 500 people and wounded more than 1600 in the deadliest day of conflict since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.

I almost feel bad for Hezbollah. They’ve spent the 18 years since the Second Lebanon War preparing for this day.

They dug bunkers and tunnels, turned bedrooms into missile silos, and mosques into fortifications. (1/8) https://t.co/qSwUwheDRfpic.twitter.com/pUpsQSEXdS

— Saul Sadka (@Saul_Sadka) September 23, 2024

Highways out of cities were jammed with cars as families desperately tried to escape the devastation across southern Lebanon, with the Israeli Defence Forces launching more than 1600 strikes targeting Hezbollah militants and their arsenals – which included cruise missiles, short-range rockets and attack drones.

Shocking scenes in Lebanon as the IDF bombs the house of a local fireworks enthusiast. Just look at his collection of Catherine wheels, Roman candles and bottle rockets going off.

Well, either that or Hezbollah are hiding arms caches in civilian houses. Hard to say. pic.twitter.com/sl0obPvwBE

— Andrew Fox (@Mr_Andrew_Fox) September 23, 2024

In a post, the IDF showed off what is said was a long range rocket, “stored on a hydraulic system” in the attic of a Lebanese family’s home. The IDF said the rocket was “directed toward Israeli civilians and ready to be launched at a moment’s notice. This is just one of the 1,300 targets including long-range cruise missiles, heavyweight rockets and UAVs that were struck today in Lebanon and were going to be used to cause major damage in all areas of Israel.”

A Hezbollah missile system in the attic of a home in the southern Lebanon village of Houmine al-Tahta. Picture: Israel Defence Forces.

IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi said the strikes launched by ‘Operation Northern Arrow’ hit combat infrastructure which Hezbollah had been building for two decades.

“This is the most difficult week for Hezbollah since its establishment – the results speak for themselves,” he said. “Entire units were taken out of battle as a result of the activities conducted at the beginning of the week in which numerous terrorists were injured.”

“We are crushing what was built by Hezbollah for 20 years,” Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said during a visit to the IDF Operations Directorate’s command room.

Hezbollah responded with a barrage of rockets targeting the north of Israel, including the northern city of Haifa – the first time its missiles had targeted the coastal port. Late on Monday night local time, the militants fired another 20 rockets at northern Israel, with debris and munitions fragments falling around Nazareth as the Iron Dome intercepted the missiles.

Traffic Jams for Miles in Major Cities across Southwestern Lebanon, as Residents attempt to Flee the Carnage. pic.twitter.com/YtJdw6fPVi

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 23, 2024

Although most of Hezbollah‘s rockets failed to reach their targets, schools and beaches in northern Israel have been closed.

Earlier on Tuesday (AEST) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Lebanese residents to “get out of harm’s way” as Israel pounded Lebanon in a dramatic escalation of tensions on Monday.

In a video alert, Mr Netanhayu said: “I have a message for the people of Lebanon, Israel’s war is not with you, it’s with Hezbollah. For too long, Hezbollah has been using you as human shields.

“Don’t let Hezbollah endanger Lebanon. Please get out of harm’s way now”. He said people could return to their homes “once our operation has finished”.

Volunteers carry an elderly man on a chair as people flee their villages in southern Lebanon. Picture: AFP.

His warning came as EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said the escalating clashes were pushing the Middle East into all-out war.

“I can say we are almost in a full-fledged war,” Mr Borrell said ahead of a gathering of world leaders at the United Nations.

“We’re seeing more military strikes, more damage, more collateral damage, more victims,” he added.

A US official, speaking at the UN General Assembly, said Washington opposed an Israeli ground invasion targeting Hezbollah, adding: “I don’t remember a time when Israeli attacks reduced the escalation.”

Penny Wong said she was deeply concerned at the dramatic escalation in tensions.

Speaking from New York where she will address the United Nations this week, the Foreign Minister called for an end to the hostilities and urged Australians in Lebanon to leave the country.

“We’re alarmed by the escalation and the loss of civilian life, both in Lebanon and also (in) the attacks into Israel,” Senator Wong said.

🔴Northern Israel Right Now 🔴

This is what we are up against.

We hold the Lebanese government accountable for every Hezbollah rocket launched from its soil.

We will never apologize for protecting the people of Israel. pic.twitter.com/Ij0np5z1t8

— Israel ישראל (@Israel) September 23, 2024

“We have consistently said we wish to see de-escalation. We believe a wider regional conflict is not in the interest of any of the peoples of the region.”

She reiterated the government’s warnings of recent months for Australians and dual nationals in Lebanon to get out of the country while they still could.

“Whilst we are doing what we can to prepare contingency arrangements, the numbers of Australians in Lebanon are beyond the capacity of the government to provide assistance to all,” Senator Wong said.

“There are very large numbers of Australians in Lebanon, which is why we again say to any Australian who is in Lebanon what we’ve been saying for months, which is you should return home as soon as you are able to whilst commercial options are still available.”

Hezbollah has fired around 150 projectiles at northern Israel in the past 24 hours, according to the Israeli military. More than 8800 rockets, missiles and drones have been fired by Hezbollah into Israel since October 8, according to Israel. The Israeli military has also struck Lebanon more than 8000 times by air, drone, missile and artillery in the same period, according to the non-profit Armed Conflict Location and Event Data.

Hamas’s armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, said its field commander in southern Lebanon, Mahmoud al Nader, was killed in today’s strikes.

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Israeli shelling in the southern Lebanese village of Zaita. Picture: AFP.

The IDF said it had targeted Ali Karaki, the group’s southern front commander, in a strike near Beirut. Amid uncertainty over whether he was killed in the strike, Hezbollah issued a statement early this morning Australian time saying: “Commenting on Israel’s claims of assassinating our brother Mujahid Ali Karaki, we confirm that our dear brother the Mujahid leader Hajj Ali Karaki is safe, in full health and well being and has moved to a secure location.”

Israel also sent text messages and recorded messages to phones of Lebanese citizens and appeared to hack into radio stations with warnings ahead of the bombardment.

One message said: “If you are in a building with Hezbollah weapons, stay away from the village until further notice.”

The military also released video of an attack on a house that was storing Hezbollah missiles and pictures of weapons it said rockets it said were being stored in a residential home.

The IDF releases footage of an airstrike against a home in Lebanon where Hezbollah had stored munitions.

The video shows a rocket flying out of the building following the strike, and hitting an adjacent home. https://t.co/35egx69gYHpic.twitter.com/QrWvJTju8q

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) September 23, 2024

Israel began the day long offensive in the south and east of Lebanon with at least 1600 strikes that killed hundreds of people, including civilians, and by Monday evening had begun an air attack on Beirut.

The Lebanon health ministry said 492 people including 21 children had been killed and 1645 injured.

The US has deployed additional forces to the region, but for “operational security,” the Pentagon refused to say how many, for how long or for what mission.

Meanwhile Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has accused Israel of laying “traps” to lead his country into war. “They are dragging us to a point where we do not wish to go,” he warned.

Vehicles move along a congested highway along the southern entry to Beirut as families flee the Israeli strikes. Picture: AFP.

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated after a series of severe blows to the militant organisation last week, including the blowing up of walkie talkies and pagers in an attack widely attributed to Israeli intelligence service Mossad.

An Israeli strike on Friday killed the head of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force and other top commanders, as they gathered in Beirut to plan the invasion of northern Israel and a repeat of Hamas’s October 7 massacre.

With AFP