Hezbollah launches large-scale rocket attack: Israel declares emergency

Lebanese Hezbollah announced that it struck eleven Israeli military targets, launching over 320 Katyusha rockets. The attack is said to be in response to the death of a high-ranking military commander who was killed on 30th July in an Israeli attack on Beirut.

The Israeli Ministry of Defense has declared a state of emergency nationwide for the next 48 hours. The army reported on Sunday morning that it would conduct preemptive strikes in Lebanon.

"In a self-defence act to remove these threats, the IDF is striking terror targets in Lebanon," said army spokesman Daniel Hagari in a recording. Israel has communicated that Lebanese civilians were warned to leave areas where Hezbollah was operational immediately.

"This is not an attack aimed at starting a war, but rather removing a serious threat to millions of Israeli citizens," reports the "Times of Israel," citing an anonymous government source. "The continuation of the escalation depends on Hezbollah’s actions," the politician added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he is convening an urgent meeting of his security cabinet.

White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said that U.S. President Joe Biden is "closely monitoring events in Israel and Lebanon."

Many recordings have also appeared online showing rockets being fired towards Israel.

Here is another recording captured at dawn:

At this moment, there is no information about any casualties or injuries.