Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that the recent air raids targeting Hezbollah rockets in southern Lebanon will not be the end of the conflict. The two sides exchanged heavy fire, with Israel using 100 jet fighters to hit over 40 target sites, and Hezbollah launching hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel.
Netanyahu stated that the raids were aimed at destroying short-range rockets designed to attack Israeli citizens and forces in the Galilee. Hezbollah claimed to have successfully launched drones and used rockets to distract Israel’s Iron Dome defense system, with their leader Hassan Nasrallah stating they had decided to focus on military targets rather than civilian ones in retaliation for the killing of a senior commander.
Despite the tensions, both Netanyahu and Nasrallah have hinted at the possibility of further exchanges but have also indicated they do not want a full-scale war. Foreign diplomats have confirmed that both sides consider the latest exchange as completed.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praised the success of the recent airstrikes, stating that the operation had destabilized Hezbollah and prevented many rockets from being launched towards northern Israeli communities.
Internationally, Israel’s allies have expressed support for its right to defend itself while also urging restraint to avoid a regional conflict. The US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff arrived in Israel for talks with military officials, and the US has been helping track incoming Hezbollah attacks while not being directly involved in Israel’s preemptive strikes.
Overall, the situation remains tense, with both Israeli and Hezbollah forces preparing for the possibility of further conflict, but also leaving the door open for potential negotiations to deescalate the situation.
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