The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) announced that it targeted numerous rocket launch sites throughout southern Lebanon, while the leader of Hezbollah condemned Israel for breaching a “red line”.
Israel’s armed forces indicated that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) executed the strikes over a two-hour period late Thursday night, representing the first significant assault since Lebanon experienced explosions involving pagers and walkie-talkies earlier in the week.
The blasts – attributed to Israeli activities – have claimed 37 lives and injured thousands. Israel has not openly responded to the assaults, which security experts suggest were likely executed by its Mossad intelligence agency.
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An IDF statement revealed that the sites engaged by the IAF had rocket launcher barrels that were “primed for immediate use against Israeli territories”.
“Since this afternoon, the IAF has targeted roughly 100 launchers and additional terrorist infrastructure locations, encompassing about 1,000 barrels that were prepared for immediate launch towards Israeli territory,” they noted.
The IDF reported that airstrikes targeted approximately ‘100 launchers and additional terrorist infrastructure sites’. Pic: IDF
On the same day, the Israeli military confirmed that two of its soldiers were killed in northern Israel: Local media outlet N12 News reported that one was taken down by a drone and the second by an anti-tank missile launched by Hezbollah from across the Lebanese border.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah declared in a speech that the “unprecedented” explosions from pagers and walkie-talkies “could be interpreted as a declaration of war”.
He accused Israel of the attacks, asserting that they “crossed all prohibitive boundaries,” and promised that they would face “appropriate retribution”.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah stated that Israel ‘crossed all prohibitive boundaries’ and held the pager explosions responsible. Pic: Chris Cunningham, Sky producer
During Nasrallah’s address, where he described the blasts as a “massacre” and a “test” for Hezbollah, sonic booms were reported over Beirut, causing buildings to tremble.
The Hezbollah leader mentioned that 4,000 pagers used by members detonated in hospitals, stores, vehicles, and streets “filled with civilians” on Tuesday.
Subsequently, a thousand walkie-talkies detonated on Wednesday.
This follows the IDF’s announcement that it will investigate an event where Israeli soldiers appeared to have pushed three seemingly lifeless bodies from rooftops during a raid in the occupied West Bank.
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An Associated Press (AP) journalist present at the location observed the occurrence, and the agency acquired and confirmed footage showing three Israeli soldiers lifting what seems to be a rigid body and subsequently dragging it towards the edge of a roof.
Troops were visible standing on the ground below. Soldiers on the rooftop leaned over the ledge before forcefully throwing the body off.
In a declaration, the Israeli military stated that the incident is “under investigation,” adding: “This is a serious occurrence that does not align with IDF values and the standards expected of IDF personnel.”
