Netanyahu announces attacks in Lebanon as “not the end” after retaliatory strikes – Middle East live

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has said that Hezbollah did not use precision missiles in its attacks this morning, but could use them in the near future.

In a lengthy speech, he added that Hezbollah had attacked an Israeli military intelligence base just outside Tel Aviv and ruled out an attack on civilian infrastructure.

Jordan has warned that increased escalation between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah could lead to a “regional war” that would threaten stability.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Sufain Qudah said Israel’s relentless “aggression” in the Gaza Strip and the failure of a ceasefire put the region at risk of an escalation of the conflict, Jordanian state media reported.

Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah exchanged messages through intermediaries on Sunday to prevent further escalation after one of the biggest exchanges of fire between the two enemies in 10 months, two diplomats said. Reuters.

The most important message was that both sides believed Sunday’s intense exchange of fire was over and neither side wanted a full-scale war, said one diplomat. The diplomats spoke on condition that their identities not be disclosed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel had taken preventive measures against the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon and that its air defenses had intercepted all missiles and drones fired against Israel.

He said the leaders of Hezbollah and Iran should know that the response was “another step towards changing the situation in the north and the safe return of our residents to their homes” and that “this is not the end of the story.”

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has informed his US counterpart Lloyd Austin about the rocket attack by the Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon.

The militia Hamas, which is also supported by Iran, has published a message in support of Hezbollah’s attack on Israel.

“We commend and bless Hezbollah’s great qualitative response to vital and strategic targets deep inside (Israel).

“We condemn the escalation of the brutal aggression of the occupying power against the Lebanese sister republic, which represents blatant violations of international conventions.

“(Israeli) intransigence reveals once again that it is a rogue country that poses a threat to the region and to international security and stability.”