On August 25, Hezbollah forces in Lebanon announced they had carried out a large-scale attack using missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) against Israeli positions. Hezbollah called this an "initial response" in retaliation for the assassination of its senior commander, Fuad Shukr, in the suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, last July.
Not wanting a full-scale confrontation.
A statement from Hezbollah indicated that the group launched 320 missiles towards various locations in Israel, including military bases and barracks. Additionally, Hezbollah deployed a large number of drones deep within Israeli territory. Hezbollah stated that it was “on high alert” and would “severely punish” any civilians in Lebanon who were injured.
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Katz stated that the Israeli military discovered Hezbollah's plan for a large-scale missile and drone attack and therefore launched a preemptive strike to protect civilians, rather than seeking a full-scale war. Lebanon's official national news agency, NNA, also confirmed that several locations in the south of the country had been targeted by Israeli airstrikes.
In addition to the preemptive attack on Hezbollah, the Israeli Ministry of Defense declared a 48-hour state of emergency (starting at 6:00 AM on August 25). The Israeli Internal Front Command (HFC) updated security and safety regulations for citizens, including restrictions on gatherings of no more than 30 people for outdoor events and no more than 300 people for indoor events (applicable to areas north of Tel Aviv).
However, schools, offices, and businesses continued to operate, provided they ensured safe shelter conditions. On the morning of August 25, the Israeli aviation authority also suspended flights to and from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv due to security concerns. However, this order was only in effect for a short time, and flights resumed after a few hours.
Diplomatic efforts
Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, diplomatic efforts to end the crisis in the region are ongoing. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and his US counterpart Joe Biden, in a phone call, urged all parties involved to commit to overcoming obstacles and demonstrate flexibility in order to finalize a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
President El-Sisi stressed that achieving an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is crucial at this critical juncture, helping to prevent a catastrophic humanitarian crisis and de-escalate the conflict in the region. The phone call took place as Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are coordinating efforts to advance intensive mediation to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas.
According to a White House announcement on August 23, the Cairo talks have made progress and negotiations will continue later this week.
On August 24 (local time), the Israeli army announced it had withdrawn from the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip and ordered the evacuation of civilians in the central area of the strip, signaling a new phase in the military operation there.
Earlier, Israeli troops were engaged in fighting on the outskirts of Deir al-Balah, destroying dozens of Hamas infrastructure facilities and killing many fighters. Israel also claimed to have destroyed a 500-meter-long tunnel in the city of Khan Younis.
Compiled by MINH CHÂU
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/israel-hezbollah-ben-tan-cong-phu-dau-ben-phong-ten-lua-post755676.html
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