Lebanese media reports Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, following a deadly Hezbollah rocket attack on the Druze town of Majdal Shams.
Some reports claim that the strikes are being carried out in the town of Burj el-Shemali, some three kilometers from Tyre.
Social media users post footage of what they say are the Israeli airstrikes.
Other reports, quoted by Israel’s Army Radio, say the IDF has targeted the Chebaa area, from where the IDF said earlier that the deadly rocket was fired into Majdal Shams.
There is no immediate comment from the IDF.
An IDF spokesman said late Saturday that the attack was directed by Ali Muhammad Yahya, who is the commander of a rocket launching site in the Chebaa area.
IDF chief says Hezbollah attack will be met with ‘very, very significant response’ from Israel
In a visit to Majdal Shams earlier tonight, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi told community leaders that the deadly attack on the Druze town would be met with a “very, very significant response” from Israel, Hebrew media reports.
“We will hit Hezbollah hard,” he vowed, adding that the Lebanon-based terror group “does not distinguish between killing Druze or Jews.”
When Israel strikes, he warned, “Hezbollah may shoot here more, and caution must be taken to follow the Home Front Command and Northern Command’s instructions.
“We want to deliver a hard blow to Hezbollah, without having any more casualties here,” he added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has cut short his trip in the US by a few hours and is expected back in Israel early Sunday afternoon, has also vowed Hezbollah will pay a “heavy price” for the attack. The decision-making security cabinet is set to convene later on Sunday afteroon.
UN officials call for ‘maximum restraint’ on all sides after Hezbollah strike kills 12
‘This has gone on for too long’: Gantz visits Majdal Shams following deadly Hezbollah strike
National Unity party leader Benny Gantz visited Majdal Shams after the deadly Hezbollah attack on the Druze town, his office says in a statement, where he paid a condolence call to Mayor Dolan Abu Saleh and community leader Sheikh Muafak Tarif.
He was accompanied by National Unity MK Michael Biton, former MK Mufid Mari and Golan Regional Council head Uri Kellner.
Israel has a “moral obligation in the south to bring home the hostages, and we have a strategic obligation to restore security to the north and the people to their homes,” he told the Druze community leaders. “This has gone on for too long.”
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