Israel has assassinated the head of Iran's KHASH (Intelligence) Agency, in front of his home in Iran, and then commenced "pre-emptive" attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Hossein Piri, Head of the Intelligence Department of Khash City, Sistan and Baluchistan Province, was killed in front of his home.
The pre-emptive attack by Israel against Hezbollah was highlighted by Israeli fighter jets heard roaring northward over Tel Aviv, as they move to bomb Lebanon.
This is a developing story happening now: 10:35 pm 24 August 2024. Updates to appear below . . . .
UPDATE 10:40 PM EDT --
-- As of now, the preemptive strikes appear to be conducted ONLY by the air force. There is no evidence of Israeli ground forces entering Lebanon, YET
-- Ben Gurion airport suspending flights right now, as strikes intensify in Lebanon.
-- IDF spokesperson Hagari on airstrikes against Hezbollah that was preparing to fire rockets:
“A short while ago, the IDF identified the Hezbollah terrorist organization preparing to fire missiles and rockets toward Israeli territory.
In a self-defense act to remove these threats, the IDF is striking terror targets in Lebanon, from which Hezbollah was planning to launch their attacks on Israeli civilians.
This follows more than 6,700 rockets, missiles, and explosive UAVs fired by Hezbollah at Israeli families, homes, and communities since October 8th.
Hezbollah will soon fire rockets, and possibly missiles and UAVs, towards Israeli territory."
VIDEO
UPDATE 10:48 PM EDT --
-- Prime minister Netanyahu will convene the security cabinet at 7am local time (midnight ET)
-- IDF claims it conducted strikes on "long range missiles" Hezbollah prepared to launch at Israel.
-- Over the last 48 hours, the U.S. and Israel obtained intelligence that showed Hezbollah was preparing to launch its attack imminently, Israeli and U.S. officials say.
Rocket Alerts now Northwestern Israel:
-- Large explosions in the Haifa area
-- Flights to Tel Aviv are being diverted amid Israel’s preemptive strike on Hezbollah happening right now.
UPDATE 10:54 PM EDT --
-- Chaos in Israel's Kiryat Shimona, several houses set on fire due to rocket attack
-- Non stop alerts of Rockets and drone infiltration into Israel.
NOW: Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks targeting northern Israel:
-- Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA) Ambulance Service has been placed on High Alert, in preparation for a Large-Scale Attack by Hezbollah against the North and Center of the Country.
-- Arriving and Departing Flights at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv have been Halted until at least 10:00am, but this will likely be Extended.
***** FLASH *****
What triggered tonight's movement by Hezbollah (and others) to attack Israel was the ASSASSINATION of the Head of Khash (Iran) intelligence, who was assassinated in front of his house in Iran.
Israel is CONTINUING to assassinate people inside Iran ! ! ! ! !
UPDATE 11:09 PM EDT --
-- The shelters in Tel Aviv have now opened. It appears all major cities and towns from Gush Dan and north will do so, if they haven't already.
-- A second wave of iSRAELI pre-emptive strikes has started in Lebanon.
-- Reports from inside Israel (from civilians) say there is "chaos in the north. Lots of explosions and power outages."
***** BULLETIN *****
— Hezbollah official: "The Zionist entity has launched a war against the organization; we will destroy the center of Palestine."
-- Israel is expecting a response from Hezbollah in the coming hours. Officials are not ruling out missile fire toward Central Israel. IDF divisions are on standby status for an immediate ground invasion if needed.
-- Over 200 Israeli planes participated in the first wave of air force attacks on Lebanon. The idea was to take out all emerging threats at once.
-- IDF: New instructions will be distributed to the public in the coming Hours.
-- IDF continues Attacking. Hundreds of Hezbollah targets have been hit so far.
UPDATE 11:29 PM EDT--
-- Massive explosions heard in Haifa and Acre. Power outages in Acre and the surrounding area. Local residents report power outages also in Akko.
-- Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant has declared an emergency situation in the country for the next 48 hours. The "special situation in the home front" enables the IDF Home Front Command to issue restrictions.
-- Reports indicate that hundreds of Israeli airstrikes are hitting Hezbollah positions throughout southern Lebanon. The war has started.
-- Israeli Military Officer Just told me personally "Several days of battle or war in the Northern front has begun."
-- Casualties reported in several areas of northern Israel.
Confirming my earlier reporting that Ben Gurion Airport is closed, below is the official NOTAM:
UPDATE 11:45 PM EDT --
-- Over 150 Rockets and several Drones have been launched against Northern Israel in the last hour.
UPDATE 12:08 AM EDT (SUNDAY MORNING) --
Netanyahu and other high ranking Israeli officials are presently assembled at, and operating from, IDF Headquarters is Tel Aviv, and ** NOT ** at the underground Bunker in Jerusalem:
-- Hezbollah released a statement claiming the "first phase" of its response has been completed, They also publicly claim that more than 320 rockets were fired at 11 Israeli bases.
FINAL UPDATE:
Hezbollah is publicly claiming:
"We targeted the following sites:
1- Meron Base
2- Neve Ziv Battery
3- Zaitoun Base
4- Za'oura Batteries
5- Sahel Base
6- Kela Barracks in the occupied Syrian Golan
7- UAV Barracks in the occupied Syrian Golan
8- Nafah Base in the occupied Syrian Golan
9- Yardena Base in the occupied Syrian Golan
10- Ein Zeitim Base
11- Ramot Naftali Barracks"
There is word on social media that the last target "Naftali Barracks" suffered a direct hit, and that there are casualties.
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