Israel framed its strikes as preemptive. According to Lebanese officials, the Israeli military struck forty locations in southern Lebanon with about 100 fighter jets. Shortly after, according to Hezbollah, it launched over 320 rockets at northern Israel as "the first phase" of its response to Israel's July assassination of senior commander Fuad Shukr.[4][5][6][7]
In the days preceding the strikes, the US and Israel received intelligence showing Hezbollah was preparing to initiate an attack.[9]
Strikes
Israel
Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari stated that domestic intelligence believed that Hezbollah was intending to initiate an imminent "extensive attack"—including rockets, missiles, and drones—on Israel and fired counterstrikes against long-range missiles Hezbollah intended to use. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu managed the operation from Tel Aviv with defense minister Yoav Gallant; Netanyahu convened his security cabinet at 7 a.m.[10]
According to an Israeli official, the U.S. was informed of the operation.[9] According to a U.S. defense official, the United States helped Israel track incoming Hezbollah attacks.[11] According to The New York Times, Hezbollah intended to fire rockets at 5 a.m. and Israel destroyed Hezbollah's missile launchers.[12] Israel sent a hundred fighter jets during its operations.[13] Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described the strikes as "very successful", stating that "over fifty percent, maybe two-thirds" of Hezbollah's strikes were prevented.[14]
Hezbollah
Hezbollah stated the organization began its response to the assassination of Fuad Shukr, targeting a "special military target", Iron Dome platforms, and other sites.[15][16][17] In its first stage, Hezbollah claimed that it had fired over 320 rockets at nearly twelve Israeli military bases and positions.[6][18][19]
Casualties
Two Hezbollah militants were killed and one Hezbollah militant and a Syrian national were injured in southern Lebanon, one critically.[20][21] The Amal movement said one of its fighters from Khiam was killed.[7] Hezbollah confirmed death of their six militants on 25 August.[22]
In a conversation with Gallant, U.S. secretary of defense Lloyd Austin discussed avoiding escalating the Israel–Hamas war, according to Gallant.[29]United States National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett stated that president Joe Biden was "closely monitoring events in Israel and Lebanon" and reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself.[30]
