The Israeli military says its warplanes have struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after detecting moves to launch an aerial attack on Israel.<\/p>\n
Israel said around 100 fighter jets had destroyed “thousands” of rocket launchers in southern Lebanon on Sunday morning, in what it described as an act of “self-defence”.<\/p>\n
Hezbollah later fired hundreds of rockets towards northern Israel, calling it “phase one” of a multi-stage attack.<\/p>\n
The exchange marks a major escalation of tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed Shia Muslim group.<\/p>\n
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that it had identified “extensive preparations” for a large-scale aerial attack by Hezbollah, which had prompted it to launch the pre-emptive strikes.<\/p>\n
It added that its planes had struck over 40 launch areas, some of which it said were aimed towards central Israel.<\/p>\n
Foreign minister Israel Katz said Israel was “acting to protect its citizens and territory” and “does not seek all-out war” in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
Israel said Lebanese civilians had been warned to immediately leave areas where Hezbollah was operating.<\/p>\n
Lebanon’s public health ministry said the Israeli raids had killed one person in Khiam, with two others injured.<\/p>\n
Shortly after the Israeli strikes, Hezbollah said it had launched 320 Katyusha rockets aimed at 11 Israeli military bases and barracks.<\/p>\n
It said the attack was in response to last month’s killing of the group’s senior military commander, Fuad Shukr.<\/p>\n