Israel Intercepts Hundreds Of Hezbollah Rockets, Drones; Thwarts Much Larger Attack

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shot down hundreds of rockets and drones fired early Sunday morning by Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon.

Approximately 100 fighter jets with the Israel Air Force (IAF) struck more than 40 launch areas, preventing what officials said was a much larger imminent attack in which Hezbollah was preparing to fire as many as 6,000 rockets and drones at Israel.

“Most of these launchers were aimed toward northern Israel and some were aimed toward central Israel,” the IDF said.

The attack from Hezbollah came in response to Israel killing Fuad Shukr late last month. Shukr was Hezbollah’s “most senior military commander and the head of its Strategic Unit” and Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah’s “right-hand man”.

In the more than 10 months since Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack, Hezbollah has fired more than 6,700 rockets, missiles, and explosive drones at Israeli communities leading to hundreds of thousands being displaced from their homes.

“This morning we identified Hezbollah preparations to attack Israel. In consensus with the defense minister and the IDF chief of staff, we directed the IDF to initiate action to eliminate the threat,” said Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a Security Cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv.

“Since then, the IDF has been taking strong action to foil threats. It has eliminated thousands of rockets that were aimed at northern Israel. It is thwarting many other threats and is taking very strong action—both defensively and offensively,” he continued.  “We are determined to do everything possible to defend our country, to return the residents of the north safely to their homes and to continue to uphold a simple rule: Whoever harms us, we harm them.”

The IDF estimates that about 6,000 rockets and UAVs Hezbollah planned to launch at Israel were destroyed
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— Ari Hoffman (@thehoffather) August 25, 2024

Israel continued to pound Hezbollah positions throughout southern Lebanon on Sunday morning after the first wave of airstrikes were completed.

Another Israeli Strike just now near the City of Naqoura, in Southwestern Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/9jDNfJkmbn

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) August 25, 2024

צה"ל ממשיך לתקוף בדרום לבנון pic.twitter.com/8O5nx6kd40

— איתי בלומנטל ???????? Itay Blumental (@ItayBlumental) August 25, 2024

Israel has resumed airstrikes in South Lebanon pic.twitter.com/5vsPzCZLaK

— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) August 25, 2024

The attacks come as an Israeli delegation is expected to head to Egypt later on Sunday to continue talks about a potential ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz posted on X that he has urged dozens of his counterparts worldwide to support Israel in its fight against “the Iranian axis of evil and its proxies, led by Hezbollah.”

“I informed them that Israel acted after definitively identifying a large-scale planned attack of missiles and drones by the Hezbollah terrorist organization against targets in Israel, and we delivered a preemptive strike to prevent the assault and protect Israeli citizens and territory,” he said. “Israel is confronting the axis of evil led by Iran, which has the explicit aim of destroying Israel. We do not seek a full-scale war – but we will do whatever it takes to protect our citizens.”