Israel's military chief Eyal Zamir said fighting against Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which began early Monday, could take "many" more days.
"We have launched an offensive campaign against Hezbollah," Zamir said in a video shared by the military on Monday, hours after rocket fire claimed by Hezbollah prompted a wave of Israeli strikes on Lebanon. "We must be prepared for several days of fighting, many."
Israel carried out the airstrikes in Lebanon after Hezbollah launched missiles and drones towards Israel to avenge the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
More than a dozen explosions rocked Beirut, in the most intensive strikes on the southern suburbs since a war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2024.
People fled on foot and by car, clogging the roads, after the series of strikes began around 2:40 a.m. (0040 GMT).
The Israeli military said it had begun striking Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, including senior Hezbollah members in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
