Israel bombs southern Lebanon with “dozens of planes” – DW – 09/21/2024

This Saturday (09/21/2024) a massive Israeli airstrike hit southern Lebanon, a day after a bombing on the outskirts of Beirut killed 37 people, including senior Hezbollah commanders, raising fears of an all-out war. Israeli officials said they hit “thousands of rocket launchers” ready for use in southern Lebanon.

“In the past hour, we have carried out a large-scale attack in southern Lebanon, after identifying Hezbollah’s preparations to open fire on Israeli territory,” military spokesman Daniel Hagari said in the evening, adding that “dozens of air force planes” had taken part. In that process.

At the same time, and due to growing insecurity, the military announced new restrictions on civilians in the north of the country. From Haifa, the country’s third-largest city, through the Galilee and some communities in the occupied Golan Heights, gatherings of more than 30 people outdoors and 300 people indoors were banned. Also, any educational activity should have bunkers nearby.

Hezbollah fired about 90 rockets

For its part, the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement reported firing dozens of rockets at military positions in northern Israel, whether they were outposts, barracks or bases. Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed it had detected “about 90” rockets fired against its border, causing a fire in an open area and a house fire in Kadida.

The Israeli military said it had fired thousands of rocket-launched artillery at the neighboring country “ready for immediate use”. In addition, he said he destroyed about 180 “targets,” which included everything from Hezbollah fighters to military structures.

“Hezbollah’s military chain of command has been almost completely dismantled,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement, showing the faces of half a dozen senior officers killed in eleven months of fighting the Iran-aligned militia. “We will continue to act against any terrorist organization that poses a threat to our public on all fronts,” the text added.

DZC (AFP, EFE)