Israel thwarts Hezbollah attack with preventative strikes as terrorist group fires missiles from Lebanon

Israel thwarted a major attack Sunday by engaging in a series of preventative strikes against Hezbollah, an Iran backed terrorist group in Lebanon. The strikes, which purportedly had Israeli fighter jets destroying rocket launchers aimed at Israel prevented a major Hezbollah missile attack against the Promised Land.

Reports indicated that more than 100 Israeli warplanes bombed more than 40 Hezbollah missile sites in Lebanon and destroyed hundreds of rockets aimed in the direction of Tel Aviv.

The terrorist group fired hundreds of rockets into Israel’s northern area after the more significant attack was thwarted, but both sides are now reporting they have ceased firing for now.

“In the last hour, the IDF attacked to remove threats launched by the terrorist organization Hezbollah in several areas in southern Lebanon. The IDF is doing and will continue to do everything necessary to protect the citizens of the State of Israel,” Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a tweet published on the X social media platform Sunday morning local time.

The IDF earlier warned Israeli citizens about the attack and told them to follow instructions on IDF platforms.

“Fighter jets are now attacking targets of the Hezbollah terrorist organization that posed an immediate threat to the Israeli home front,” an earlier tweet said. “Following these attacks and in accordance with the assessment of the situation held by the Home Front Command, life-saving instructions will be distributed in some areas of the country. Follow the updated instructions on the platforms of the IDF spokesperson and the Home Front Command,” the post instructed Israeli citizens.

Media in Lebanon also reported strikes were occurring in the southern territory, but did not offer more details. Israel’s preemptive attack was made after Tel Aviv determined the terrorist group had vowed to launch a massive wave of missiles toward the Promised Land as part of revenge for the killing of one of its top commanders last month, the IDF reported.

Israel also warned Lebanese citizens to avoid areas where Hezbollah may be operating.

“We can see that Hezbollah is preparing to launch an extensive attack on Israel, while endangering the Lebanese civilians,” Hagari advised. ”‎‏We warn the civilians located in the areas where Hezbollah is operating to move out of harm’s way immediately for their own safety.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday the IDF preemptively stopped “thousands of rockets that were aimed at northern Israel,” adding that Tel Aviv would do whatever it took to protect the people of Israel.

“We are determined to do everything to defend our country, to return the residents of the north securely to their homes and to continue upholding a simple rule: Whoever harms us — we will harm them,” Netanyahu said.

After Israel’s preventative strikes, Hezbollah said it launched 320 rockets and a “large number” of drones against various sites northern Israel, but they were largely unsuccessful and captured by Israel’s Iron Dome aerial defense system.

As a results of the attacks, northern Israel was clamored with the sounds of warning sirens and flights in Tel Aviv were canceled.

Israel’s preventative strike to prevent Hezbollah’s terror attack springs from the killing of Fouad Shukur in a strike in southern Beirut last month and Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed on July 31 during a visit to Tehran.

News reports indicated that it was not clear if there were any casualties from the attacks on both sides.

The strikes come as Egypt is trying to orchestrate cease-fire talks to end the war between Hamas and Israel. Hezbollah allied its terrorist forces with Hamas after it launched a provoked attack against southern Israel on Oct. 7, killed 1,200 and kidnapped hundreds, some of whom are still being held hostage in Gaza.

Hezbollah said that its leader, Hassan Nasrallah would speak at 6 p.m. (11 a.m. EST) to refute Israel’s claim it was successful in preventing the terror group’s attacks.