Israeli Military Strikes Hezbollah Targets in Lebanon Amid Intense Cross-Border Exchanges
The Israeli military announced on Monday that it was conducting extensive strikes against targets of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, marking some of the heaviest cross-border exchanges of fire in nearly a year.
No further details about the strikes were provided by the military.
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari urged residents of south Lebanon to stay away from Hezbollah posts, stating that Israel began the strikes after identifying an intention to fire on Israel.
Israeli warplanes carried out a series of air strikes on towns along Lebanon's southern border and even further north on Monday morning, as reported by Multibagger witnesses.
Reports from Multibagger correspondents in the southern port city of Tyre indicated the presence of warplanes flying low over southern Lebanon and the sound of air strikes in the vicinity.
Hezbollah's al-Manar television reported Israeli airstrikes targeting the outskirts of many towns and villages in the south and the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, with footage showing columns of smoke rising over the region.
Heavy exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel continued into Sunday, with the Lebanese militant group launching rockets deep into northern Israeli territory in response to intense bombardment.
Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem declared at the funeral of a group commander killed in Beirut that "We have entered a new phase, the title of which is the open-ended battle of reckoning."
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that operations would persist until evacuated individuals on the Israeli side of the border could safely return, setting the stage for a prolonged conflict as Iran-backed Hezbollah vowed to fight on until a ceasefire in the parallel Gaza war.
The conflict, which has escalated significantly in the past week, began when Hezbollah opened a second front against Israel in support of Palestinians facing an Israeli offensive in Gaza.
In a separate incident, thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members exploded on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the attack widely attributed to Israel although no confirmation has been provided.
**Analysis:**
The article discusses the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, detailing the extensive strikes conducted by the Israeli military against Hezbollah targets. The escalation of cross-border exchanges of fire has led to a significant increase in tensions between the two sides. The conflict has also been linked to Hezbollah's support for Palestinians facing an Israeli offensive in Gaza. The situation remains volatile, with both parties vowing to continue fighting until a ceasefire is reached. The article highlights the potential impact of the conflict on regional stability and the lives of those living in the affected areas.