NewDelhi, Au 25 (KNS): Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Sunday, claiming a “preemptive” strike after detecting Hezbollah’s preparations for an attack on northern Israel. In response, Hezbollah announced that it had completed the first phase of its retaliatory operation, following the killing of its commander Fuad Shukr in late July. The Lebanese group fired over 320 Katyusha rockets at 11 Israeli military targets, including bases in the occupied Golan Heights.

This escalation follows months of tit-for-tat attacks between the two sides.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelAl Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reported that Israel’s strikes primarily targeted the border area, extending up to 5 kilometers deep along the 120-kilometer border. The area has been declared a military zone and has been repeatedly bombed by Israel in recent months.

In related incidents, Lebanon’s NNA news agency reported that one person was critically injured in an Israeli drone attack in Qasimia, and another was killed in an airstrike on the town of Khiam.(KNS)