Israel, Hezbollah trade fire as Middle East tension escalates

According to a statement from Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, several explosive drones have been launched, targeting key Israeli military sites.

Hezbollah said it has launched "more than 320" Katyusha rockets at Israel.

In response to the threat, the Israeli military initiated pre-emptive strikes on targets in Lebanon.

The IDF announced these strikes early Sunday, stating that they had detected preparations by Hezbollah for "large-scale" attacks on Israeli territory.

Israeli Air Force fighter jets have been deployed to neutralise these threats, focusing on Hezbollah positions that posed an immediate danger to Israeli civilians.

IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagarim said: "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."

In a separate X post, the Israeli defence force said: " Approx. 100 IAF fighter jets struck and eliminated thousands of Hezbollah rocket launcher barrels, aimed for immediate fire toward northern and central Israel."

IDF said over 40 Hezbollah launch areas were struck.

Benjamin Netanyahu reacts

Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu reacted to the development and said his nation is determined to do everything to protect the country.

"This morning we detected Hezbollah’s preparations to attack Israel. Together with the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff, we instructed the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) to act proactively to remove the threat," he was quoted as saying by CNN.

US monitoring situation

The White House on Saturday said President Joe Biden is closely monitoring the situation which is developing in the Middle East.

“He has been engaged with his national security team throughout the evening. At his direction, senior US officials have been communicating continuously with their Israeli counterparts. We will keep supporting Israel’s right to defend itself, and we will keep working for regional stability,” NSC spokesperson Sean Savett said in a statement as quoted by CNN.

This escalation comes after weeks of growing tension, with Hezbollah and its regional ally, Iran, vowing to avenge the assassination of its military commander Fuad Shukr last month.

The group has called the attack on its commander as a direct provocation and an act of war.

What is Hezbollah?

Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and paramilitary group, led since 1992 by its Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.

Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese Parliament.