FIERCE battles have erupted in southern Lebanon as Hezbollah clashed with Israeli forces in an ominous sign a full-scale invasion is underway.
The terror group joined Iran launching over 100 rockets into Israel claiming it targeted Israeli troops infiltrating the border town of Maroun Al Ras.
An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires a shell from northern Israel towards Lebanon
APAn Israeli Apache helicopter releases flares near the Lebanon border[/caption]
EPASmoke billowing in the air after Israeli airstrikes near Maroun El Ras village in southern Lebanon[/caption]
Artillery is fired by the Israeli Army into Lebanon
Tansim MilitaryIran claims to have used hypersonic missiles to attack Israel[/caption]
ReutersIsrael’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets[/caption]
The group’s media chief Mohammad Afif warned that Hezbollah is “only in the first round.”
It comes after the terror group claimed to have pushed back Israeli forces attempting to enter the town of Adaisseh early this morning.
Hezbollah also claimed it had targeted “a large infantry force” in Misgav Am across the border.
Israel has continued its operations in Lebanon with at least five airstrikes in Beirut early this morning.
The IDF said that regular infantry and armoured units were joining ground operations in southern Lebanon, but noted they would remain limited and localised in scope.
The addition of infantry and armoured troops from the 36th Division, including the Golani Brigade, the 188th Armoured Brigade and the 6th Infantry Brigade, suggests that the operation has moved beyond limited commando raids.
It comes as…
Israel ‘preparing to blast Iran’s oil fields’ in revenge
UK helped fend off 181 Iran missile blitz with Typhoon jets
Middle East on brick of all-out war as Israel vows retaliation
At least six people shot dead in ‘terror attack’ in Israeli city Tel Aviv
Elite IDF paratroopers & commando units launch ground invasion of Lebanon
Israel vows to ‘crush Hezbollah’ after launching ‘Northern Arrows’ invasion
Israel declares no-go zone for Lebanese civilians south of the Litani River
UK Government charters emergency flight out of Lebanon for fleeing Brits
The IDF ordered the evacuation of 24 more villages in southern Lebanon after sending more troops across the border.
An IDF post on X read: “Evacuate your homes immediately. Be careful, you are prohibited from heading south.
“Any movement south could put you in danger. We will let you know when it is safe to return home.”
The warning comes after Iran unleashed a barrage of 180 missiles into Israel last night, bringing the region to the brink of an all-out war in the Middle East.
The attack followed Israel’s ground invasion dubbed Northern Arrows.
I was sitting eating a pizza – moments later I was running for my life
by Nick Parker, Foreign Editor, in northern Israel
I’D just ordered a coffee in a roadside cafe on my way back from Israel’s northern war zone when the alert flashed up on my phone.
It read: “Iran is preparing an imminent ballistic missile attack against Israel. Please take cover as soon as possible.”
I was sitting in a pizza restaurant in a much-rocketed area north of the coastal port of Haifa when the warning pinged in my pocket.
Moments later I saw other diners picking up their phones as warnings reached them but was impressed by their stoicism as they carried on munching on their margaritas.
These were people who have endured daily rocket attacks from Hezbollah for nearly a year but even they began to shuffle in their seats as more warnings appeared on their mobile security apps.
This was clearly something much bigger than the daily Hezbollah barrage from the north.
And moments later we were jammed in the door as it was confirmed that more than a hundred Iranian ballistic missiles flying at 14 times the speed of sound were on their way.
This was confirmed to be only the first of several waves of attacks heading out way.
We ran across the road into a concrete shelter where English speakers told me to expect to be stuck there for some time as I tapped out my story using the glow of my laptop screen.
Then moments later the first booms split the air high above as Iron Dome interceptors engaged the incoming rockets.
I – probably very foolishly – took a sneak peek into the sky outside and watched trails of red rockets racing up to meet the missiles in a spectacular but potentially deadly firework display.
But scary spectaculars like this have become a way of life for the people of northern Israel – who clearly trust the boffins whose rocket wizardry had saved their lives yet again.
It remained unclear whether Iran’s terror masters had inflicted death or destruction as they attempted to decimate their hated enemy.
And this may be just the first of many terrifying tests for the people of Israel, their enemies and the millions caught in the crossfire as the threat of a catastrophic war looms.
Israelis scrambled for bomb shelters as air raid sirens sounded and the orange glow of missiles streaked across the night sky.
Israeli PM Netanyahu vowed to respond to Iran’s blitz saying it “made a big mistake and it will pay for it.”
“The regime in Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and our determination to retaliate against our enemies,” he added.
Washington said it would work with Israel to ensure Iran faced “severe consequences” for the missile attack.
Israel could target oil production facilities inside Iran within days, Israeli officials told Axios.
Other possible targets would be the country’s air defence system as well as assassinations of senior figures.
But Tehran threatened Israel would suffer the “vast destruction” of its infrastructure if it attacks Iran.
Iran’s military also warned of “strong attacks” on military bases in the region if Israel’s allies intervene.
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