Israel has launched “several dozen” strikes in Lebanon in response to dozens of rockets fired by Hezbollah

The Israeli strikes killed at least three people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. No casualties were reported on the Israeli side.

“If Hezbollah has not understood the message, I promise you, it will understand it.”boasted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli army struck “several dozen” Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, Sunday morning, September 22.

“This morning, warplanes (…) struck dozens of Hezbollah terrorist targets, including launchers and military structures in dozens of areas in southern Lebanon”the army details in a statement on Telegram. An offensive already started during the night, with “a number of Hezbollah launchers and military infrastructure in several areas of southern Lebanon” struck.

The Israeli assault comes in response to “nearly 150 rockets, cruise missiles and drones launched towards Israel” on the night from Saturday to Sunday and Sunday morning. Among them, “nearly 115” Hezbollah fired on civilian areas in northern Israel, the army reported earlier this morning. Only “a small number of impacts and debris [des tirs interceptés] fallen on the front” have been reported.

For its part, the Lebanese Islamist movement claims to have “bombed the military industry complexes” Israeli with “tens” rockets. The powerful pro-Iranian formation also declared having launched “explosive-laden drones” to two positions where troops are located in northern Israel, claiming to be acting “in response” to Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon.

Israeli strikes killed at least three people in three villages in southern Lebanon, according to three separate statements from the Lebanese Health Ministry. The Islamist movement Hezbollah said two of its fighters were killed, without specifying where.

Tensions between Israel and Lebanon have risen sharply in recent days, with dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries in Lebanon caused by a series of deadly explosions, blamed on Israel, targeting Hezbollah members’ pagers and walkie-talkies on Tuesday and Wednesday. Israel has never commented on the attacks. An Israeli strike on a building in Beirut’s southern suburbs also killed a total of 45 people on Friday, including civilians, according to Lebanese authorities.