Great escape for Israel? Hezbollah planned to attack IDF, Mossad headquarters in central region

Hezbollah had planned to launch large-scale missile and drone attacks in central Israel on Sunday (Aug 25) morning before Tel Aviv came up with its pre-emptive strikes, a report in Times of Israelhas claimed, citing IDF intelligence sources.

The Iran-backed outfit was aiming for theGlilot base near Herzliya, where several IDF intelligence units and the Mossad headquarters are based. The attack was supposed to start around 5 am local time but the Israeli forces drew first blood.

Lebanon's state-run news agency reported that Israeli strikes in the southern region on Sunday were "the most violent" since the war in Gaza against Hamas began in October last year.

As soon as the Israeli fighter jets were scrambled out of the hangars to launch the attacks, IDF issued a statement to residents of southern Lebanon to seek safer pastures.

"Fighter jets are now attacking targets of the Hezbollah terrorist organisation that posed an immediate threat to the Israeli home front," the IDF said in a statement.

FIRST VISUALS: Missiles seen fired over Israel-Lebanon border as Israeli Defence Forces conduct preemptive strike against Hezbollah targets#Lebanon #Israel

READ MORE: https://t.co/Ur1X2rIU6R pic.twitter.com/8j4vXAUzD8 — WION (@WIONews) August 25, 2024

Watch |Israel launches pre-emptive strikes on Lebanon

'Whoever harms us'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chaired a cabinet meeting after the pre-emptive strikes and vowed that Tel Aviv would respond to anyone who tried to 'harm us'.

“We are determined to do everything to protect our country, return the residents of the north safely to their homes and continue to follow a simple rule: Whoever harms us — we harm them," said Netanyahu.

“This morning we detected Hezbollah’s preparations to attack Israel. In consultation with the defence minister and the IDF chief of staff, we instructed the IDF to act proactively to remove the threat," he added.

Meanwhile,Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced a 48-hour nationwide state of emergency from 06:00 am (0300 GMT) Sunday.

"The declaration on the state of emergency enables the IDF (Israeli military) to issue instructions to the citizens of Israel, including limiting gatherings and closing sites where it may be relevant," Gallant said, in a statement issued by his office.

After Israel's pre-emptive strikes, Hezbollah also announced it had launched attacks in northern Israel. Hezbollah said it had launched 'more than 320' Katyusha rockets while Israel claimed only 220 rockets and around 20 drones were fired.

(With inputs from agencies)