Israel Strikes Hezbollah Bases in Lebanon as Group Leader Vows Retaliation

Israel on Thursday launched a strike on Lebanon after the Hezbollah chief issued a statement on the series of pagers and walkie-talkies blasts in Beirut and other parts of the country. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced that they have conducted strikes in Lebanon aimed at degrading Hezbollah's terrorist capabilities and infrastructure.

In a statement, the IDF emphasized that the Hezbollah terrorist organisation has transformed southern Lebanon into a combat zone. For decades, Hezbollah has weaponised civilian homes, constructed tunnels beneath them and utilised civilians as human shields. The IDF is taking action to restore security to northern Israel, allowing residents to return to their homes, while working to achieve all objectives of the ongoing conflict.

Earlier in the day, the leader of Hezbollah said that deadly Israeli attacks that blew up Hezbollah radios and pagers crossed all red lines and called it could be a declaration of war.

Lebanon and Hezbollah have blamed Israel for attacks on Hezbollah's communications equipment that killed 37 people and wounded around 3,000, overwhelming Lebanese hospitals and wreaking bloody havoc on Hezbollah.

Israel has not directly commented on the attacks, which security sources say were probably carried out by its Mossad spy agency. Meanwhile, the attacks on Hezbollah communications equipment sowed fear across Lebanon, with people abandoning electronic devices for fear of carrying bombs in their pockets

"There is no doubt that we have been subjected to a major security and military blow that is unprecedented in the history of the resistance and unprecedented in the history of Lebanon," Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said in his TV address, filmed at an undisclosed location.

"This type of killing, targeting and crime may be unprecedented in the world," he said, appearing in front of a featureless red background in his customary black turban.

The attacks "crossed all red lines", he said. "The enemy went beyond all controls, laws and morals," he said adding the attacks "could be considered war crimes or a declaration or war, they could be called anything and they deserve to be called anything. Of course that was the intention of the enemy."

As the broadcast was aired, deafening sonic booms from Israeli warplanes shook Beirut, a sound that has become common in recent months but has taken on a greater significance as the threat of all-out war has steadily ramped up. Israel said its warplanes struck southern Lebanon overnight. Hezbollah reported that airstrikes resumed in the border area in the afternoon.

Nasrallah said Hezbollah hoped Israeli troops would enter southern Lebanon because that would create a "historic opportunity" for the Iran-backed group.