Israeli airstrikes intensify in southern Lebanon amid escalation with Hezbollah

Lebanon (Quds News Network)- Israeli forces launched intense airstrikes across several regions in southern Lebanon on Saturday, escalating the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and the Israeli military. Lebanese sources reported that the Israeli army carried out eight airstrikes on villages in southern Lebanon, bringing the total number of air raids on Lebanon since the morning to over 75.
Simultaneously, air raid sirens blared across multiple settlements in the occupied Upper Galilee and the occupied Golan Heights, including the Meron airbase and its surroundings, as Israeli forces feared drone infiltrations from Lebanon.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for retaliatory attacks, striking several areas in northern Israel, including Israeli military installations and settlements near the occupied city of Safed.
Israel’s government declared a state of emergency across northern Israel, extending to the occupied city of Haifa. This included the closure of beaches in Haifa, Acre, and Nahariya, as the region braces for further escalation.
The escalation follows an Israeli assault on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Friday, which resulted in the deaths of 38 Lebanese civilians, according to the latest figures from Lebanon’s Ministry of Health. The total death toll in Lebanon over the past week has now risen to 82 due to Israeli airstrikes, as confirmed by Lebanon’s health minister.
Later in the day, Israeli war planes launched a new wave of air raids on southern Lebanon, while Israeli sources warned of an imminent Hezbollah response. The Lebanese news agency reported that more than 50 additional Israeli airstrikes targeted the country’s south throughout the evening.
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated in a press conference that Israel ‘preemptively’ attacked after detecting Hezbollah’s preparations for a large-scale offensive. Hagari claimed that 400 Hezbollah rocket launchers had been targeted throughout the day, involving thousands of missile silos.
Earlier in the day, Israeli forces carried out more than 100 airstrikes on southern Lebanon and the Western Bekaa region. Israel’s defense minister Yoav Gallant signed a new directive to fortify the northern front, stretching from occupied Haifa to the Lebanese border.
Hezbollah has vowed to avenge recent Israeli attacks, including the assassination of two senior commanders from the group’s elite Radwan Unit in a raid on Beirut’s southern suburbs. Lebanese media speculates that Hezbollah’s response could occur within the next 24 hours.
Israeli military officials expressed concerns that Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah might broaden the conflict in an attempt to retaliate for the killings. Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency security meeting in Tel Aviv with key ministers and military leaders to assess the situation.
Israel’s intense air campaign on southern Lebanon marks a new phase in the conflict, which began with the detonation of communication devices in Lebanon earlier this week. These devices caused the deaths of dozens and injured hundreds. Following this, Israel bombed a building in Beirut’s southern suburbs, killing two Hezbollah field commanders.
In retaliation, Hezbollah launched a series of Katyusha rockets at Israeli military positions in the Galilee and the occupied Golan Heights. The Israeli military reported that around 90 rockets were fired from Lebanon, some of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome, while others landed in open areas.