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August 2024 Israel–Lebanon strikes

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August 2024 Israel–Lebanon strikes
Part of the Israel–Hezbollah conflict and the Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)

Israeli Defence Forces officials during the strikes
Date25 August 2024
Location
Southern Lebanon and northern Israel
Result
  • Hezbollah claims to have hit Glilot Military Base and Ein Shemer Airfield
  • IDF claims to have intercepted most of Hezbollah's rockets and drones
Belligerents
 Hezbollah
Amal Movement		  Israel
Commanders and leaders
Units involved
320+ Katyusha rockets 100 fighter jets
Casualties and losses
  • 6 Hezbollah militants killed
  • 1 Amal militant killed
  • 1 Hezbollah militant injured
  • 1 Israeli Navy sailor killed[1]
  • 2 Israeli Navy sailors injured
    • 1 Syrian national and 1 Israeli civilian injured

    On 25 August 2024, Israel struck targets in southern Lebanon, followed by strikes by Hezbollah.[2][3]

    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]

    Background

    Israeli assassinations

    Main articles: 2024 Haret Hreik airstrike and Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh

    On 30 July 2024, Fuad Shukr, a Hezbollah militant leader, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Israel has previously accused Shukr of involvement in the Majdal Shams attack three days prior that killed twelve children and young adults in the disputed Golan Heights.

    On 31 July 2024, Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was killed in a guesthouse in Tehran. In response to the assassination, Iran has stated that it would respond militarily, accusing Israel of Haniyeh's death;[2] Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah stated that the organization had entered new phase in its conflict with Israel in response to Shukr and Haniyeh's deaths.[8]

    Anticipated Hezbollah strikes

    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]

    An Israeli Navy officer was killed by a malfunctioning missile launched by the Iron Dome that struck a Dvora-class fast patrol boat off the coast of Nahariya, northern Israel and two others were injured.[1][23][24] A woman was slightly injured by a missile in northern Israel.[25][26]

    Responses

    Israel

    Departures and arrivals were canceled at Ben Gurion Airport until 10 a.m.;[2] two El Al flights were diverted.[10] The Golan Regional Council instructed residents of the Golan Heights to remain in their shelters.[27] Yoav Gallant declared an "emergency situation" for two days.[28]

    United States

    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]

    References

    1. ^ a b "Sgt. David Moshe Ben Shitrit fell in battle in north". Israel National News. 25 August 2024.
    2. ^ a b c Shankar, Vivek (24 August 2024). "Israel Begins Striking Hezbollah in Lebanon". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
    3. ^ Siddiqui, Usaid (25 August 2024). "Nasrallah denies Israel destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
    4. ^ Donnison, Jon (25 August 2024). "Israel and Hezbollah say they don't want war - but they are both ready for it". BBC. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
    5. ^ Borger, Julian (25 August 2024). "Israel says strikes on Hezbollah are pre-emptive action". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
    6. ^ a b Kershner, Isabel (24 August 2024). "In a second statement, Hezbollah said it had successfully completed the first stage of its attack on Israel". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
    7. ^ a b Gritten, David; Lukiv, Jaroslav (2024-08-25). "Israel and Hezbollah exchange heavy fire in major escalation". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
    8. ^ Ward, Euan (1 August 2024). "Hezbollah Leader Threatens Retaliation Against Israel, Saying Conflict Is in 'New Phase'". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
    9. ^ a b Ravid, Barak (24 August 2024). "IDF says it launched preemptive strike in Lebanon ahead of Hezbollah attack". Axios. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
    10. ^ a b Federman, Josef; Sewell, Abby; Chehayeb, Kareem; Madhani, Aamer (24 August 2024). "Israel says it is staging airstrikes inside Lebanon targeting the Shiite militia Hezbollah". Associated Press. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
    11. ^ Liebermann, Oren (2024-08-25). "Israel strikes Hezbollah sites in Lebanon". CNN. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
    12. ^ Bergman, Ronen (24 August 2024). "Israel's preemptive attack was aimed at missile launchers in Lebanon that had been programmed to be fired at 5 a.m. in the direction of Tel Aviv, according to a Western intelligence official". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
    13. ^ Keller-Lynn, Carrie; Dowell, Andrew (24 August 2024). "Israel Sends 100 Jets at Lebanon in Huge Pre-emptive Strike". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
    14. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (25 August 2024). "Gallant: Preemptive strike was 'very, very successful,' Hezbollah 'thrown off balance'". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
    15. ^ Gould, Tom (2024-08-25). "Israel orders media blackout as Hezbollah to show proof of damaged targets". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
    16. ^ "Hezbollah says it has begun attacking Israel". The Guardian. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
    17. ^ Adler, Nils; Uras, Umut (25 August 2024). "Photos: The aftermath of Hezbollah's retaliatory attack on Israel". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
    18. ^ "Hezbollah aired footage on Sunday of Israeli bases and barracks that it said it targeted in the first phase of its retaliation for the assassination of Shukr". Palestine Chronicle. 25 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
    19. ^ Motamedi, Maziar; Siddiqui, Usaid (25 August 2024). "The "main target for the operation" inside Israel was "the Glilot base – the main Israeli military intelligence base", Nasrallah said". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 25 August 2024. The Israeli army says Hezbollah has failed to strike a military intelligence base near Tel Aviv that the Lebanese armed group's leader says was the target of a rocket and drone barrage.
    20. ^ Ward, Euan (24 August 2024). "Lebanon's state-run news agency reported that Israel's strikes in southern Lebanon on Sunday were "the most violent" since the war in Gaza began in October". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
    21. ^ Motamedi, Maziar (25 August 2024). "Hezbollah announces killing of 2 members". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
    22. ^ Rowlands, Lyndal; Rasheed, Zaheena (25 August 2024). "WATCH: Israel attacks south Lebanon, Hezbollah launches rockets at Israel". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 26 August 2024. Hezbollah said six of its fighters were also killed.
    23. ^ Motamedi, Maziar (25 August 2024). "Reports in Israeli media indicated there were casualties, but the Israeli military has yet to comment". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
    24. ^ Motamedi, Maziar; Siddiqui, Usaid (2024-08-25). ""Petty Officer First Class, David Moshe Ben Shitrit, aged 21… fell during combat in northern Israel," the military said in a statement, adding that he was from the navy and that two others were also wounded". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
    25. ^ "Woman injured by shrapnel as explosions heard in northern Israel". Al Jazeera English. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
    26. ^ Siddiqui, Usaid (25 August 2024). "Homes damaged in northern Israel after Hezbollah attack: Report". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
    27. ^ Karni, Dana (24 August 2024). "Israeli military striking what it says are 'terror targets in Lebanon'". CNN. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
    28. ^ "Israel declares 'emergency situation' for next 48 hours". Al Jazeera English. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
    29. ^ Kershner, Isabel (24 August 2024). "Israel's defense minister, Yoav Gallant, spoke with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin a short time ago, briefing him on the Israeli military's early-morning activities in Lebanon meant "to thwart an immediate threat" against Israel, according to a statement from Mr. Gallant's office". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
    30. ^ Barnes, Julian (24 August 2024). "Sean Savett, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said President Biden is "closely monitoring events in Israel and Lebanon."". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
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