The Israeli military announced today that it is carrying out “widespread strikes” in southern Lebanon, just hours after intercepting a missile launched by Hezbollah towards Tel Aviv.
The military is “currently conducting widespread strikes in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region (east). Further details will follow,” the Israeli armed forces stated.
Meanwhile, Lebanese state media reported that the Shiite city of Maaysrah, located in the mountainous Keserwan district, mostly populated by Christians, was hit.
Israeli Airstrikes have reportedly Targeted the Town of Maaysrah to the North of Beirut, marking the First Israeli Strikes against Northwestern Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/pZl3DdHwW0
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 25, 2024
There have been no reports of casualties so far, but this is the first time this region, located about 30 kilometers north of Beirut, has been targeted by Israeli forces since the recent escalation in hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.
Unprecedented Attack
The Israeli military announced today that for the “first time,” the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah launched a missile against Tel Aviv, which was intercepted by Israel’s air defense system.
“This is the first time a Hezbollah missile has reached the Tel Aviv area. It was intercepted,” said a spokesperson for the Israeli armed forces.
Israel's Iron Dome intercepted a Hezbollah missile attack over Tel Aviv — the first since Israel expanded its Gaza war and began attacking Lebanon.
— TRT World (@trtworld) September 25, 2024
Israel claims this is the first time a Hezbollah missile has reached the Israeli metropolis, with the Lebanese group saying… pic.twitter.com/HI3oqBDmqi
Earlier, Hezbollah announced that it had launched a ballistic missile against the headquarters of Mossad, Israel’s external intelligence service, near Tel Aviv.
“The Islamic Resistance launched a Qader 1 ballistic missile at 6:30 AM (local and Greek time) on Wednesday (…) targeting Mossad’s headquarters in a suburb of Tel Aviv,” Hezbollah announced.
The Shiite group added that Mossad “is responsible for the assassination of Hezbollah leaders” and for bombings targeting its communications systems.
Sirens in Tel Aviv
Warning sirens sounded today in Tel Aviv as Israel’s air defense system intercepted a surface-to-surface missile detected entering Israeli airspace from Lebanon, according to the Israeli military.
“After sirens sounded in the Tel Aviv and Netanya areas, a surface-to-surface missile from Lebanon was detected and intercepted by air defenses,” said a military spokesperson.
There were no reports of casualties or damage, and the military clarified that there were no changes in public safety guidelines for central Israel.
“Israel is Pushing the Region Toward All-Out War,” Say Iraq, Egypt, and Jordan
Iraq, Egypt, and Jordan’s foreign ministers issued a joint statement today condemning “Israel’s attack on Lebanon” and warned that “Israel is pushing the region towards a full-scale war.”
The ministers also mentioned a “trilateral summit” of their leaders to be held in Cairo.
“The ministers condemned Israel’s attack on Lebanon, asserting that Israel is driving the region towards an open war,” the statement said, calling on “the international community and the UN Security Council to take responsibility and stop the war.”
Citing “the dangerous escalation in the region,” the ministers emphasized that “to stop this escalation, the Israeli attack on Gaza must cease,” according to the joint statement issued after the foreign ministers’ meeting in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
