Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on the 25th (local time) that all large-scale airstrikes by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah had been thwarted.
According to major foreign media on the day, Prime Minister Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting, "We shot down all Hezbollah drones launched toward strategic targets in central Israel."
He emphasized, "Today, we prevented the attack planned by Hezbollah" and "the Israeli military destroyed thousands of short-range rockets."
Netanyahu addressed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, saying, "This is another step to change the situation in the north and safely return residents," adding, "This is not the end."
Earlier, Hezbollah had announced retaliation after senior commander Fouad Shukr was assassinated by the Israeli military on the 30th of last month in Lebanon. The Israeli military detected signs of a Hezbollah attack at dawn that day and launched a preemptive strike on Hezbollah military facilities, including missile launchers in southern Lebanon.
Subsequently, Hezbollah fired about 320 rockets and drones toward Israel. After the retaliatory attack, Hezbollah stated, "Phase 1 of retaliation against Israel has been successfully completed," and "attack drones deeply penetrated Israeli barracks and facilities."
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