Foiled massive Hezbollah attack was reportedly meant to include the launch of precision-guided missiles at the Glilot area where the Mossad headquarters and 8200 Intelligence Unit base are located.
rockets fired from Lebaon (archive)Eyal Margolin/Flash 90
The Hezbollah terrorist organization reportedly planned to launch a number of precision-guided missiles at the Glilot area where the Mossad headquarters and 8200 Intelligence Unit base are located.
The attack on the Glilot area would have occurred as part of the massive Hezbollah missile attack on Israel that was thwarted with a pre-emptive IDF strike in Lebanon early Sunday morning.
Approximately 100 IAF fighter jets, directed by IDF intelligence, struck and destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rocket launcher barrels that were located and embedded in southern Lebanon. Most of these launchers were aimed toward northern Israel and some were aimed toward central Israel. More than 40 launch areas in Lebanon were struck during the strikes.
Some 6,000 rockets, UAVs and launchers that Hezbollah had planned to fire at Israel were destroyed.
It is estimated that Hezbollah has managed to fire 300 projectiles in response thus far. The organization claimed that additional waves were to be expected.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the start of a political-security cabinet meeting at the Kirya this morning, “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.”
“We are determined to do everything to defend our country, to return the residents of the north securely to their homes and to continue upholding a simple rule: Whoever harms us – we will harm them,” Netanyahu said.
Hezbollah announced that it had launched an attack on Israel in retaliation for the killing of Fuad Shukr in Beirut.
By YONAH JEREMY BOB, MATHILDA HELLER, TOVAH LAZAROFF, REUTERSUpdated: AUGUST 25, 2024 11:32Interception of Hezbollah rocket above Safed. 25 August 2024. Courtesy of Yonatan Verstandig
The IDF and Hezbollah entered a new, much more dangerous phase of the conflict in the North early Sunday morning, with hundreds of air force jets striking thousands of Hezbollah rocket attack platforms.
With Israeli intelligence observing that Hezbollah was about to launch its largest attack of the current war, including to the Tel Aviv and central Israel areas, around 5:00 a.m., the IDF preemptively and independently struck targets where Hezbollah was on the verge of firing on Israel.
Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved the preventative action against Hezbollah at IDF headquarters Saturday night and were bringing together the security cabinet around 7:00 a.m.
IDF pre-emptively strike Hezbollah targets and launch sites in Lebanon as the group plans a mass aerial attack on Israel, August 25, 2024. (IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)
Netanyahu told the security cabinet, “This morning, we detected Hezbollah’s preparations to attack Israel. In consultation with the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff, we instructed the IDF to act proactively to remove the threat.”
“The IDF has since been working vigorously to thwart such threats. It destroyed thousands of rockets aimed at the north of the country, it has also thwarted many other threats and operates with great power – both in defensively and offensively,” Netanyahu said.
Israeli Apache combat helicopters fly above Jerusalem on August 25, 2024. (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Netanyahu asked Israeli citizens to follow the Home Front commands.
“We are determined to do everything to protect our country, return the residents of the north safely to their homes, and continue to uphold a simple rule: whoever harms us – we will harm them,” he said.
Starting at around 5:30 am on Sunday, Hezbollah claimed it launched around 320 rockets at northern Israel, including at areas like Safed and Acre, and at 11 military bases, which to date have mostly been left alone by the Lebanese terror group.
The IDF implied that Hezbollah’s success and volume of attacks were lower than what it was claiming while refusing to give specifics, saying this would fall into the trap of letting Hezbollah make quick adjustments.
The military said it successfully shot down huge numbers of attempted Hezbollah attacks without giving specific numbers.
A small number of incidents on the Israeli side were under gag order.
IDF pre-emptively strike Hezbollah targets and launch sites in Lebanon as group plans mass aerial attack on Israel, August 25, 2024. (IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)
An Israeli air strike on a car in the southern Lebanese town of Khiam on Sunday left one person dead, Lebanon’s state news agency and a security source said.
Hezbollah claims
The group said its attacks came in response to Israel’s killing of the group’s top commander in a strike on a Beirut suburb last month.
“By God’s grace, the first stage has been fully completed with complete success. This stage involved targeting Israeli barracks and sites to facilitate the passage of attack drones towards their intended destination deep within the entity [Israel]. The drones passed, praise be to God, as planned,” the group wrote. “The number of Katyusha rockets fired so far has exceeded 320 rockets directed at the enemy’s positions.”
At this stage, while the IDF is prepared for any scenario, there is no new move for an IDF land invasion of southern Lebanon, something that many residents of the north and some coalition officials have called for in recent months but which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently opposed.
It is unclear how large Hezbollah’s attack would have been absent the initial attack by the IDF, and it is further unclear whether Hezbollah will continue to escalate its attacks and how far south it will fire.
Changes to Home Front Command
However, the IDF Home Front Command has already radically changed its instructions, placing limits on public gatherings, workspaces, and education activities reaching south of the Upper Galilee (which has often had restrictions) as far South as Tel Aviv.
Ben Gurion delays due to Hezbollah escalation, 25 August 2024 (credit: screenshot)
The Central and Jerusalem regions South of Tel Aviv are not yet impacted, but Ben Gurion Airport has been temporarily closed as a strict measure in case the situation escalates.
IDF Chief Spokesman Daniel Hagari warned the public of the potential deteriorating situation in an early morning press conference.
“In a self-defense act to remove these threats, the IDF is striking terror targets in Lebanon, from which Hezbollah was planning to launch their attacks on Israeli civilians.”
“Hezbollah will soon fire rockets, and possibly missiles and UAVs, towards Israeli territory. From right next to the homes of Lebanese civilians in the South of Lebanon, we can see that Hezbollah is preparing to launch an extensive attack on Israel while endangering the Lebanese civilians.”
Israel Airports Authority announced on Sunday morning that departures from Ben Gurion Airport will be delayed for the next few hours, and flights en route to Ben Gurion Airport will be redirected to alternative airports in the region. It added that airlines were informed that the skies in Israel would be closed until at least 10:00 a.m.
Authorities later said Ben Gurion Airport was expected to resume operations at 7:00 a.m.
MDA CEO Eli Bin assessed the security situation overnight, and MDA spokesman Zachi Heller announced on Sunday morning that Magen David Adom was subsequently on high alert in all areas of the country.
Sunday marks Ziyara Shabaniya, or Arbaeen, commemorating the fortieth day of Ashura. On this day, Shiites raise the red flag symbolizing revenge, and there is concern that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah might seek to echo this Muslim symbol by launching an attack.
The IDF is aware of gatherings in several locations in Lebanon and fears that these large assemblies may be preparations for attacks against Israel. The Israeli assessment is that Hezbollah may strike if Hamas communicates a negative response to mediation proposals, signaling that negotiations are likely heading toward collapse rather than a breakthrough.
Additionally, Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Hossein Salami commented on the possible retaliation against Israel for the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, stating, “You will hear news soon.”
“It’s important for you to know that we are facing a significant week with ongoing negotiations in Cairo, fighting in Gaza, and border conflicts in the North,” Hagari stated.
By ANNA BARSKYUpdated: AUGUST 24, 2024 22:44Supporters listen to the speech of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, during a commemorative ceremony marking the first week since the killing of Hezbollah’s top commander Fuad Shukr, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon August 6, 2024.(photo credit: REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
The leading assessment in Israel is that Hezbollah plans to launch an attack against Israel the moment Hamas delivers a negative response to the mediators concerning the compromise proposal, as it becomes clear that the talks are heading toward a breakdown rather than a breakthrough.
IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said on Saturday: “IDF forces continue [operating] decisively and forcefully against the terrorist organization Hezbollah. In recent days, we have struck about 70 terror targets, including numerous weapon storage sites aimed at Israel, and eliminated over 20 terrorists, including senior operatives. We have damaged Hezbollah’s rocket infrastructure.”
He added: “It’s important for me to explain our operational approach. We conduct systematic and orderly attacks targeting Hezbollah’s capabilities and fighters. In defense, we coordinate, while closing loops on terrorists who have fired or emerged from suspicious areas. We target bases and terror sites, while Hezbollah attacks civilian areas and citizens. We have a wide range of offensive plans and will act according to political decisions.”
Hagari continued: “I want to address the residents of the North. I know you have been enduring ten challenging months under the threat of attacks and fires. We will not rest until you can return to your homes safely.”
IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari seen in the Northern Command, November 28, 2023 (credit: David Cohen/Flash90)
At the end of his statement, the IDF spokesperson emphasized: “It’s important for you to know that we are facing a significant week with ongoing negotiations in Cairo, fighting in Gaza, and border conflicts in the North. Our readiness for attack and defense is very high, and we will continue to work to remove threats and fight our enemies. The public must remain vigilant and alert, as you have been so far. We will provide immediate updates on any developments.”
Hamas remains passive in ceasefire talks
“We are responding with very high intensity. I described our recent attacks, targeting about 70 significant Hezbollah positions and over 20 terrorists, including senior figures. We will continue to act decisively against threats to Israeli civilians.”
Negotiations for a ceasefire and a hostage deal are set to resume this weekend. A senior Hamas official confirmed that the group’s representatives will travel to Cairo to hear the outcomes but will not actively participate in talks. Hamas, which did not take part in the previous round of talks in Doha, Qatar, is sending a delegation to Cairo to “listen to the results of the negotiations” involving officials from the US, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar, according to senior Hamas member Izzat al-Rishq.
Hamas is expected to remain passive in the discussions, symbolically signaling openness to negotiations while asserting that Israel should adjust its stance.
The delegation will meet with senior Egyptian intelligence officials to be updated on the ongoing ceasefire talks but will not directly engage in negotiations, an additional Hamas official told French news outlet AFP. Hamas initially stated it would not participate in this round of negotiations that began last week in Doha. The group insists that Israel withdraw from Gaza, including the Philadelphi Corridor near the Egyptian border.
