Israel’s pre-emptive strike on Lebanon to stymie Hezbollah attack

Israel’s military pounded Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, sparking some of the heaviest fighting in months across Israel’s northern border and intensifying fears the war in Gaza could spark a wider regional conflict.

Fire on the Lebanese side of the border with Israel, after an Israeli attack. Picture: Reuters.

Israel’s military pounded Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Sunday in what it said was pre-emptive strike on the Iranian-backed terrorist group as it prepared to launch an “extensive attack” on the Jewish state.

The move sparked some of the heaviest fighting in months across Israel’s northern border, intensifying fears the war in Gaza could spark a wider regional conflict.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia was “gravely concerned” at the prospect of an escalation in the fighting, urging both sides to show restraint while reiterating her call for Australian citizens to get out of southern Lebanon.

The Israeli military said 100 of its fighter jets had destroyed “thousands” of Hezbollah rockets that had been “aimed toward northern Israel and some were aimed toward central Israel”, after it detected preparations by the militant group for a major assault.

A UAV drone is intercepted by Israeli air forces over north Israel. Picture: Reuters

Hezbollah responded by firing hundreds of rockets and drones towards residential areas of northern Israel on Sunday, describing its attack as a response to Israel’s assassination of the group’s commander, Fuad Shukr, in late July.  Israel declared a state of emergency and briefly shut down the country’s international airport, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to keep his people safe.

“This morning we detected Hezbollah’s preparations to ­attack Israel,” Mr Netanyahu said.

“In consultation with the ­Defence Minister and the IDF chief of staff, we instructed the IDF to act proactively to remove the threat.

“The IDF has since been working intensively to thwart the threats. It destroyed thousands of rockets aimed at the north of the country; it’s also thwarting many other threats and is operating with great power – both in defence and on the attack.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (centre) and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (2nd right) at Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv, early on August 25. Picture: Israeli Defense Ministry

As Israel’s war against Hamas nears its 11th month, and the country faces heightened threats from Iran and its proxies, Mr Netanyahu said his government would continue to follow a simple rule: “Whoever harms us – we harm them.”

The bombardments came ahead of a scheduled resumption of US-backed ceasefire talks in Cairo, which had been deadlocked for months amid Israel’s insistence that it retain a military presence along the border between Gaza and Egypt.

In a post on X, Senator Wong said on X called on the warring parties to dial down the hostilities.

“Australia is gravely concerned at the prospect of escalation in the Middle East,” she said.

“Further hostilities put tens of thousands of civilians in Lebanon and Israel at risk. We urge all involved actors to exercise restraint and de-escalate.”

Israel had been bracing for a ­response by Hezbollah for its targeted killing of Shukr, while a ­revenge attack has also been ­expected by Iran over the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month.

Lebanon’s health ministry ­reported at least three dead in Israeli strikes in the country’s south. No casualties were immediately reported in Israel.

IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said Hezbollah launched pre-dawn strikes on Hezbollah targets after it learned the terrorist group was preparing to fire rockets and missiles at Israeli territory.

“In a self-defence act to remove these threats, the IDF is striking terror targets in Lebanon, from which Hezbollah was planning to launch their attacks on Israeli ­civilians,” Rear Admiral Hagari said.

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet fires flares as it flies to intercept a hostile aircraft that launched from Lebanon. Picture: Jalaa Marey / AFP

Hezbollah countered that Israel was making “empty claims”, and said its own operation on Sunday “was completed and accomplished”.

It said its militants “began an air attack with a large number of drones” sent across the border, followed by “more than 320” Katyusha rockets targeting “enemy positions”.

The terrorist group said its ­attack was an “initial response” to Shukr’s killing, adding that it had “ended with total success”. The ­extent of the damage on the Israeli side was not immediately clear.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant to discuss the ­attacks, reaffirming the US’s “iron-clad commitment to Israel’s defence against any attacks by Iran and its regional partners and proxies”.

Its support for the Jewish state is underscored by a strengthened military presence in the region, including the deployment of a second aircraft carrier strike group along with a nuclear-powered ­attack submarine.

US and Arab diplomats have sought to head off an escalation in the Gaza conflict amid a fresh push by mediators for a ceasefire and hostage release deal.

An official from Mr Netan­yahu’s office said a decision would be taken late on Sunday on whether the country’s ceasefire negotiators would attend the talks in Cairo.

A Hamas delegation was planning to travel to Cairo for the talks.

Additional reporting: AFP