More than 100 Israeli warplanes attack thousands of rocket launchers in ‘preemptive’ strike against Hezbollah in Lebanon

IDF claims strikes were to prevent ‘extensive attack’ on thousands of missiles targeting Tel Aviv area

Read this article in:

Shortly before 5 a.m. on Sunday morning, Israel launched a series of airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after identifying signs of an imminent attack by Hezbollah.

The Israel Air Force (IAF) struck dozens of Hezbollah rocket and drone launch sites in an operation involving hundreds of IAF aircraft early on Sunday.

The IDF released a statement saying that approximately 100 IAF fighter jets struck more than 40 launch areas in Lebanon, destroying “thousands of Hezbollah rocket launcher barrels that were located and embedded in southern Lebanon.”

IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari reported the strikes and announced changes in Israel’s Home Front Command Defensive guidelines.

“A short while ago, the IDF identified the Hezbollah terrorist organization preparing to fire missiles and rockets toward Israeli territory,” Hagari stated. “‌In a self-defense 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.”

While The New York Times called the strike a “preemptive attack,” Hagari noted that Hezbollah had already fired thousands of projectiles into Israel since the start of the conflict.

“‌This follows more than 6,700 rockets, missiles, and explosive UAVs fired by Hezbollah at Israeli families, homes, and communities since October 8th,” Hagari said.

He also warned that “Hezbollah will soon fire rockets, and possibly missiles and UAVs, towards Israeli territory” and that the IDF “will update the Home Front Command Defensive guidelines for those in Israel shortly.”

Hagari also warned Lebanese civilians to evacuate areas from which Hezbollah is launching rockets.

“‌From right next to the homes of Lebanese civilians in the South of Lebanon, we can see that Hezbollah is preparing to launch an extensive attack on Israel, while endangering the Lebanese civilians,” Hagari noted. “‌We warn the civilians located in the areas where Hezbollah is operating, to move out of harm's way immediately for their own safety.”

California Congressman Ted Lieu questioned the New York Times’ use of the word “preemptive” to describe the strikes, noting that Hezbollah has been attacking Israel for 10 months.

Hezbollah has been launching unprovoked rocket attacks at Israel for ten months, killing civilians and destroying property.

Why is The NY Times calling this a preemptive attack by Israel? Why not call it a response to Hezbollah raining down missiles on Israel for ten months? https://t.co/NNQbXo6q8e
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 25, 2024

According to Israeli news sites, the intel indicating an imminent Hezbollah attack was received late on Saturday night.

The order to carry out the preemptive strike was given by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who observed the operation from the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv. The two also convened a Security Cabinet meeting at 7 a.m. to discuss the strikes and Hezbollah’s response.

Following the strikes, Gallant completed a call with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, briefing him on the strikes that were conducted “in order to thwart an imminent threat against the State of Israel.”

Gallant released a brief statement after the phone call, stating: “We have conducted precise strikes in Lebanon in order to thwart an imminent threat against the citizens of Israel. We are closely following developments in Beirut, and we are determined to use all the means at our disposal in order to defend our citizens.”

Shortly after the IAF strikes, Hezbollah responded by launching several rockets and drones toward Israel.

The terror group claimed to have launched around 320 rockets at northern Israel, targeting 11 military bases in the area.

Air raid sirens sounded across Israel’s northern communities in the early morning hours. Several rockets fell in residential areas, striking a house in Acre and injuring at least one person.

Another rocket struck a chicken farm in the Western Galilee community of Manot.

The IDF confirmed that around 200 projectiles had been launched towards Israel.

At the start of the Security Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said the IDF “has since been working intensively to thwart the threats.”

“This morning, we detected Hezbollah’s preparations to attack Israel,” Netanyahu said. “In consultation with the defense minister and the IDF chief of staff, we instructed the IDF to act proactively to remove the threat.”

Netanyahu said Israel is following “a simple rule: Whoever harms us – we harm them.”