Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech Sunday evening that his latest attack on Israel was complete, but that further strikes were possible in the future.
Hezbollah launched its attack in response to Israel’s assassination of its top military official, Fouad Shukr, in late July.
Nasrallah said the militant group delayed its response until Sunday to give “sufficient opportunity” for ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, impose greater “psychological and financial pressure” inside Israel, and ensure the success of the attack.
Attack details: Nasrallah said Hezbollah’s plan was to fire 300 Soviet-era Katyusha rockets to overwhelm Israeli defense systems.
Nasrallah said that instructions were given to the fighters to target military infrastructure and avoid civilians, adding that the two main targets were the Israeli Glilot military base and the Ein Shemer airport.
Israel said that during the rocket fire, Hezbollah also launched drones at targets in central Israel, but its defenses were able to shoot down the drones in the sky.
Nasrallah said Hezbollah would assess the results of the attack before deciding whether to launch further strikes.
Israel’s strikes in Lebanon: Hezbollah’s leader said Israel launched the strike about 30 minutes before Hezbollah began its operation. The Israeli military called the attack “preemptive” and said it destroyed rocket launchers that could have been used to strike Israel.
The leader of the militant group praised the “patience and courage” of people living in southern Lebanon, which has been on the receiving end of most of the Israeli strikes.
What Israel says: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also suggested Sunday that the fighting may not be over. “This is not the end of the matter,” he said in a video message.
Despite the two leaders’ rhetoric, each appears to have stepped back from the brink of a wider regional war for now.
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