Above photo: view shows smoke on the Lebanese side of the border with Israel. Aziz Taher/Reuters.
Israel Imposes Strict Censorship.
An undisclosed ‘vital military target’ was the main objective of the operation, which Israel claims to have thwarted.
NOTE: The Cradle also reports: “Israel continued to pound the south of Lebanon with indiscriminate strikes on 25 August, coming after the first phase of Hezbollah’s retaliatory operation and the coinciding Israeli attacks on the Lebanese south. Israeli warplanes struck areas between Markaba and Rab al-Thalatheen in southern Lebanon on Sunday, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported. Jets also launched ‘violent raids’ on Wadi Hamoul, east of Naqoura, and the Tasheelat area, north of Alma al-Shaab and east of Tyre, with several missiles, according to NNA. Israeli warplanes also bombarded the outskirts of the town of Zebqin, Teir Harfa, and Al-Jbeen.”
Hezbollah launched a major drone and rocket attack at over 10 Israeli targets early on 25 August in what it called the “first phase” of its response to the assassination of top military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut’s southern suburb on 30 July.
An undisclosed “vital military target,” was the main objective of this operation, according to the Lebanese resistance.
“All the attack drones were launched at the times specified for them and from all their [predetermined] positions and crossed the Lebanese-Palestinian borders towards the desired target and from multiple paths, and thus our military operation for today has been completed and accomplished, praise be to Allah Almighty,” a statement issued by the Lebanese resistance movement said.
The movement said it fired over 320 rockets at sites in the Galilee, which served as a diversion to prevent Israel’s Iron Dome system from shooting down the attack drones.
Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets into northern Israel, calling it the ‘first phase’ of its retaliation for the assassination of top commander Fuad Shukr, in Beirut in July. Earlier, Israel launched what it called ‘pre-emptive’ strikes on southern Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/4klEdqR9KD
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 25, 2024
Meanwhile, the Israeli military claimed it carried out pre-emptive strikes that successfully thwarted a massive attack by Hezbollah after identifying overnight preparations for a major attack.
“Approximately 100 IAF fighter jets struck and destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rocket launcher barrels, aimed for fire toward northern and central Israel.”
The Lebanese resistance movement addressed Israel’s announcements in one of its statements, calling them “empty claims” that “contradict the facts on the ground and will be refuted in a speech” by Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.
Following the operation, Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an order banning press interviews with Likud ministers until further notice.
Additionally, BBC journalist Nafiseh Kohnavard reported on X that the Israeli government “issued a series of new censorship regulations for media that includes the damage caused by rocket attacks to ‘strategic national infrastructure or to military bases.’”
#Hezbollah‘s retaliation Begins:
1st video: Moment of a precise missile strike on a high-value target deep in the north of occupied #Palsstine.
2nd video: a massive drone attack on northern occupied Palestine, here is one caught on camera. pic.twitter.com/PuHT9PYZ5H
— Marwa Osman || مروة عثمان (@Marwa__Osman) August 25, 2024
The Israeli military said some 210 rockets and some 20 drones were launched from Lebanon at northern Israel in Hezbollah’s attack this morning.
Some of the projectiles were intercepted, while others impacted, causing damage and injuries. Many rockets also struck open areas, the military said.
Palestinian journalist Qassem Qassem noted that “The Hebrew media is currently exaggerating the size of the enemy army’s ‘preventive’ strike, and the talk about destroying 1,000 missiles directed at Tel Aviv is ridiculous.”
Al-Mayadeen noted that “Hezbollah hit its targets despite the occupation’s reliance on significant American intelligence and operational support. The resistance’s response to the assassination of martyr Fouad Shukr succeeded despite Israel’s full state of alert for over a month.”
🔴IMPORTANT 🔴 #Hezbollah announces targets in its first stage of response against, the sites that have been targeted and hit by the grace of Allah are:
1. Meron Base
2. Neve Ziv Bunker
3. Ga’aton Base
4. Al-Zaoura Bunkers
5. Al-Sahl Base
6. Kela Barracks in the occupied Syrian…— Hala Jaber (@HalaJaber) August 25, 2024
Israel’s allies have been scrambling to prevent Iran and Hezbollah from retaliating to the Israeli attacks on their capitals last month. The assassination of top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut on 30 July killed several civilians, including children.
Washington has expressed hope that reaching an agreement to end the war in Gaza could stymie an incoming response and avoid a larger-scale regional war. Yet ceasefire talks continue to yield no results.
Hezbollah has repeatedly vowed that it will not stop operations until the war in Gaza ends and promised a harsh retaliation to Shukr’s assassination in the Lebanese capital. It has also refused any discussion on Lebanon’s border situation until an end to the war is achieved.
“Our borders with Lebanon will change and will not return to what they were before the war,” an Israeli military source told Sky News Arabia on 21 August, echoing months of Israeli threats to launch an expanded war on Lebanon.