Hezbollah launches wide-scale attack against Israeli positions

Hezbollah said it had carried out a large-scale attack with rockets and drones on Israeli positions on Sunday in an "initial response" to a top commander's killing, as Israel launched what it called pre-emptive strikes against the group.

"The number of Katyusha rockets launched until now is more than 320 ... towards enemy positions," a Hezbollah statement said, adding it had targeted 11 Israeli bases and barracks, including on the annexed Golan Heights. 

It had earlier also said it "began an air attack with a large number of drones" targeting deep into Israel.

The Iran-backed movement has exchanged regular fire with Israel in support of its ally Hamas since the Palestinian militant group's Oct. 7 attack on Israel sparked the Gaza war.

But fears of full-blown conflict grew after Iran and Hezbollah vowed revenge for the killing last month, blamed on Israel, of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and an Israeli strike that killed Fuad Shukur, a top Hezbollah commander, in south Beirut.

The Lebanese movement said its attack came in an "initial response" to Shukur's killing.

The "first phase has ended with total success," the group said, adding that this phase sought to "target Israeli barracks and positions to facilitate the passage of attack drones towards targets" deep inside Israel.

Hezbollah also said it was "in a high state of readiness," adding that "if civilians are harmed, there will be very severe punishment."

In the wake of the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his government would do everything possible to ensure the security of Israel's northern residents, tens of thousands of whom have been displaced since the start of the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel on Oct. 8.

"We are determined to do everything to protect our country, return the residents of the north safely to their homes and continue to follow a simple rule: Whoever hurts us, we hurt them," Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported Israeli strikes on a large number of locations in south Lebanon.

In the hours prior to Hezbollah's retaliatory attack, Israel said it struck "thousands" of Hezbollah launch pads.

"Approximately 100 IAF fighter jets ... struck and destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rocket launcher barrels that were located and embedded in southern Lebanon," the military said in a statement.

"Most of these launchers were aimed toward northern Israel and some were aimed toward central Israel."

Hezbollah called Israeli "claims of pre-emptive action it carried out ... and the thwarting of the resistance's attack are empty claims."

Beirut's international airport was working normally. Flights resumed normally from Israel's Ben Gurion airport after halting all activity there due to Hezbollah's attack.

Following the attack by Hezbollah, the United States, the chief supporter of Israel, said that it was still committed to Israel's defense.

"Secretary Austin reaffirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to Israel's defense against any attacks by Iran and its regional partners and proxies," a Pentagon spokesperson said in a statement.

The cross-border violence since October has killed more than 600 people in Lebanon, mostly Hezbollah fighters but including at least 131 civilians, according to an AFP tally.

On the Israeli side, authorities have announced the deaths of at least 23 soldiers and 26 civilians, including in the annexed Golan Heights.