Israel declares 48‑hour emergency amid Hezbollah rocket threats

The authorities of Israel declared a state of emergency on Sunday morning, which is to last 48 hours. This is related to the threats from the Lebanese Hezbollah. Members of this organisation announced a "large-scale" attack. More than 320 rockets were reportedly launched towards northern Israel.

According to emerging reports, the first rockets were launched towards Israel early in the morning. This is said to be a response to the death of high-ranking military commander Fuad Shukr, who was killed in an Israeli attack on Beirut on 30 July.

The Israeli Ministry of Defence declared a state of emergency throughout the country for the next 48 hours. As reported by the "Times of Israel" portal, all emergency services have been put on the highest alert due to the threat from Lebanon.

On Sunday morning, the Israeli army announced that it is carrying out preemptive strikes in Lebanon after detecting preparations by the armed Hezbollah movement.

Israel does not want an all-out war with Hezbollah, but is responding to the actions of this group and exercising its right to self-defence, said Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Sunday. "We have initiated strikes on Hezbollah because we detected that it is planning a serious attack on Israel using drones and rockets," he added.

Katz wrote to his counterparts in many countries, calling for support for Israel in its fight against Hezbollah, Iran, and its allies, reported the "Times of Israel" portal.

The Israeli army reported that about 100 fighter jets participated in the preemptive attack, hitting numerous Hezbollah rocket launchers located in over 40 locations. The attack was launched after detecting direct preparations by Hezbollah to strike Israel with rockets and drones. Some of them were reportedly aimed at targets in the central part of the country.

The Israeli military highlighted that the Lebanese civilian population was warned to immediately leave areas where Hezbollah operates. In Israel, air traffic was briefly halted at Tel Aviv's international airport.

On its part, Hezbollah stated in a press release that it "initiated an airstrike using a large number of drones" against Israel, particularly targeting an "important military target" which was not identified.

More than 320 rockets, as well as several drones with explosives, were reportedly launched towards northern Israel. In a statement, Hezbollah claims to have attacked 11 military bases.

Many recordings showing rockets launched towards Israel have also appeared online.

This salvo was the "first phase" of the response to Shukr's assassination, and the full response will take "some time" - Hezbollah announced. This Shia militant group is the strongest political party in Lebanon, fully controlling the south of the country. Hezbollah is also an armed group considered one of the strongest non-state armies in the world. Thanks to Iran's support, the organisation has an estimated rocket arsenal of 120,000-200,000 missiles.

Since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah has regularly shelled northern Israel, which has been met with retaliatory strikes. In a strike on the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights at the end of July, 12 children and teenagers were killed. Israel blamed Hezbollah for the attack, but the group did not claim responsibility. A few days later, Israeli airstrikes targeted Beirut, killing Shukr. Hezbollah vowed revenge.

The day after Shukr's death in an attack attributed to Israel, the leader of the Palestinian Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Tehran. Iran has also announced that it will retaliate against Israel.

"Times of Israel" reports that all flights from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv have been cancelled.

The White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said that US President Joe Biden is "closely monitoring events in Israel and Lebanon". "We will continue to support Israel's right to self-defence and will continue to work towards regional stability," he assured.

He added that "senior US officials are constantly communicating with their Israeli counterparts".

Threats from Iran and Hezbollah have led to an increase in tension in the Middle East to the highest level in months. The US has strengthened its military presence in the region and has declared its assistance to Israel in repelling potential attacks. At the same time, Washington has conducted a diplomatic campaign to prevent further escalation, fearing that a series of mutual strikes could even lead to a regional war.