BEIRUT, Lebanon – Israel has declared it is at war with Lebanon in a Pearl Harbour-type preemptive attack which has resulted in the carpet-bombing of more than 800 targets across the country, including the capital, Beirut.
The massive operation follows last week’s intensive, high-level, terrorist-like attacks, that killed 84 people and wounded several hundred, many critically, and the assassination on Saturday of Hezbollah’s second-incommand military chief.
Using the pre-text of Hezbollah firing rockets, which it says are to deter what it describes as the ‘genocide’ in Gaza, and incurring limited casualties and damage, the Israeli military’s warplanes took to the air on Monday in a massive preemptive operation to bomb what the military describes as strategic targets. The IDF admitted Monday’s major escalation follows weeks of preemptive strikes.
The death toll as a result of the Pearl Harbour-type bombardment at the time of writing on Monday is 274, with hundreds more wounded. The Lebanon ministry of health says women and children are among the casualties.
The IDF says it struck more than 800 targets on Monday, mostly in southern Lebanon but also in Beirut, the Lebanese capital.
“I would like to clarify Israel’s policy to whoever does not yet understand: We are not waiting for the threat, we are pre-empting it, everywhere, in every sector, constantly,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday during a meeting with military officials.
“We are eliminating senior figures, terrorists and missiles, and our arm is still extended.”
“Whoever tries to harm us, we will harm them all the more forcefully,” Mr Netanyahu said.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog followed up with a post on X, saying Israel does not seek war, but has a right and duty to defend itself.
He embedded a video into his post which the Israeli president says shows how Hezbollah stores and launches missiles in civilian areas and homes. The video he says was produced by the Israel Defense Forces. “Thousands and thousands of long range rockets are kept in houses, living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens, and then launched with the sole intention of killing our people. Would you accept this in your or your neighbor’s home? What nation would accept its citizens living under such a threat from its neighbors?” he asked.
The IDF infiltrated at least 80,000 cellphones of Lebanese residents on Monday, transmitting a message to evacuate their homes. The military jammed the Voice of Lebanon and also transmitted warnings to evacuate.
“I urge the Lebanese residents who are inside or near houses where rockets and weapons are stored, to move away immediately! For your safety and protection,” Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a statement released Monday.
“Hezbollah intends to launch these weapons toward Israel, and we will not allow it! Stay away for your own protection,” he added. “Hassan Nasrallah is lying to you and putting you in danger. Listen to the warnings and messages that will be issued by the IDF for your safety and the safety of your families.”
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, according to the Pentagon, was briefed by Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Galant on its engagement with Hezbollah on Saturday night, or Sunday Israeli time. “The Secretary expressed his support for Israel’s right to defend itself as Hezbollah extends its attacks deeper into Israel,” a U.S. defense department statement said.
Pictured: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a security assessment at the Air Force operations center at the Kirya in Tel Aviv on Monday 23 September 2024, incompany with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi, Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Tomer Bar, and his Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman.
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