Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched an attack on Israel on Sunday morning after the assassination of their senior commander Fouad Shukur last month. The group launched 320 rockets and drones at different sites across Israel, including Tel Aviv.

To defend the large-scale rocket and drone attack by Hezbollah, Israel said it carried out a wave of pre-emptive strikes across southern Lebanon. The Israeli military group also claimed to have destroyed thousands of rocket launchers.

The Israel Defense Force said approximately 100 fighter jets “struck and destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rocket launches” across over 40 areas in southern Lebanon. The attack was a major escalation after 10 months of hostilities and sparked fear of an all-out war. It was the biggest attack between the two parties since a full-scale war in 2006.

Hezbollah said the strikes are only the first wave of their extensive retaliation. The group now believes they are able to launch multiple attacks deeper into Israel.

But in a later statement Hezbollah confirmed that the attacks were the first and final move for today.

“Military operations for today have been completed,” they said.

The war has reportedly misplaced over 200,000 citizens on both sides of the boarder according to the United Naitons.

Following the secondary attacks by Israel, Egypt’s foreign minister warned against the dangers of starting a new war front in Lebanon and asks for stability in the country.

Photo: Tel Aviv, skyline view by Ron Shoshani is available HERE and is used under a Creative Commons Licence. This image has not been modified.