TEL AVIV—Israel launched a wave of airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon Thursday, as the militant group’s leader said two days of debilitating attacks on its members amounted to a declaration of war.
The strikes came moments before Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah began to speak about the attacks earlier this week that caused pagers and walkie-talkies carried by thousands of the group’s members to explode, killing 37 people and injuring nearly 3,000.
A woman prays over the grave of a relative at a cemetery dedicated to Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, in Ghobeiry, Beirut southern suburbs, Lebanon September 19, 2024. REUTERS/Emilie Madi
“This criminal act is a major terrorist operation and amounts to a declaration of war,” Nasrallah said.
Tensions across the Israeli-Lebanese border have ratcheted higher, with heavier exchanges of fire and more aggressive Israeli operations.
Israel’s government is under pressure to secure its northern towns and allow evacuated residents to return to their homes. Tens of thousands of residents have been moved from both sides of the border due to the fighting.
Nasrallah reiterated on Thursday that the U.S.-designated terrorist group wouldn’t stop attacking Israel until the war in Gaza ends. The U.S. has been working to negotiate a diplomatic solution that would include a cease-fire in Gaza, a return of Israeli hostages and an end to hostilities in the north. Israeli officials have said in recent days that the time for a diplomatic solution had run out.
“We say to the enemy: The Lebanese front will not stop until the war in Gaza is over,” Nasrallah said.
Hezbollah has continued to launch projectiles, including explosive drones, into northern Israel despite the attacks on its members. Some Israelis were injured on Thursday by the barrages.
“The Hezbollah terrorist organization has turned southern Lebanon into a combat zone,” the Israeli military said, adding that it “is operating to bring security to northern Israel in order to enable the return of residents to their homes, as well as to achieve of all of the war goals.”
Israel’s other war goals include defeating Hamas in Gaza and bringing home hostages still held there.
The strikes were more extensive than in previous days and came as the Israeli chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, approved battle plans for the northern front against Hezbollah.
Israel in recent days expanded its official war goals to include the aim of returning evacuated residents to their homes in the north.
Write to Shayndi Raice at Shayndi.Raice@wsj.com
