Israel strikes Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon

Israeli fighter jets have struck several Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon, according to the country’s defence ministry.

The Israeli Defense Ministry (IDF) said on Thursday that its warplanes hit some 100 rocket launchers and approximately 1000 barrels.

The wave of strikes came hours after Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed “tougher retribution” in a TV address, against deadly attacks that targeted its members’ communication devices earlier this week.

At least 12 people were killed and thousands were injured when the pagers they were carrying exploded across the country.

A day later, at least 20 people were killed and 450 were wounded in a series of blasts targeting walkie-talkies.

Israel has not made any official comment on the explosions but is being blamed for the coordinated blasts.

Entering a ‘new phase’ of war

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Wednesday that the country was entering a new phase in its war, and would be shifting its focus towards Lebanon and the front with Hezbollah.

Images from the region show huge plumes of smoke billowing over Kfar Seer village in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon and Israel have been on the brink of all-out war for the past year, against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war sparked by the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October 2023.