JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah exchanged heavy fire early Sunday, but both sides backed away from sparking a widely feared all-out war as they signaled the end of their most intense exchange in months.
The cross-border attacks came as high-level talks between Israel and Hamas resumed in Egypt on a ceasefire. Gaza It will also reduce regional tensions. Hamas and Israeli representatives have since left Cairo, and an Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss behind-the-scenes diplomacy, is expected to continue talks.
Hezbollah said a barrage of hundreds of rockets and drones hit an Israeli military intelligence base near Tel Aviv, and Israel said dozens of its strikes were preemptive to prevent a major offensive. No evidence is provided.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the attack was in retaliation Israel kills a top militant commander Last month in Beirut, Gaza delayed giving a chance to cease-fire talks so pro-Iranian groups could discuss whether to simultaneously attack Israel with Iran. Israeli and US military deployments also played a role.
« We now reserve the right to respond later » if the results of Sunday's offensive are not enough, Nasrallah said, adding that Yemen's Houthi rebels and Iran have yet to respond. But he told the Lebanese people: « At this current stage, the country can take a breath and rest. »
Israel and Hezbollah said they only targeted military targets. Israel said Hezbollah did not attack any military targets, and that one soldier was killed along with its marines, and two others were wounded by an interceptor or shrapnel from one of the incoming fire. Two Hezbollah fighters and one allied fighter were killed, the groups said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military had intercepted thousands of rockets aimed at northern Israel and had shot down drones targeting the center of the country.
« I repeat – this is not the end of the story, » he said.
Planes were diverted as air raid sirens blared
Air raid sirens were reported across northern Israel, and Israel's international airport was closed and flights diverted for about an hour.
Israel's military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said about 100 Israeli planes hit 270 targets, with 90% of the rockets aimed at northern Israel. He said he was investigating the percentage of incoming rockets and drones intercepted, but said « most » were intercepted.
Hezbollah said its attack involved more than 320 Katyusha rockets and a « large number » of drones targeting several sites in Israel.
Some Israelis were shocked. In the northern city of Acre, retired teacher Sadia Even Tzur, 76, said she was at the synagogue and came home five minutes after her bedroom was damaged. « I went up and saw the extent of the miracle that had happened to me, » he said. The window was broken and the bed was littered.
Amin Salam, Lebanon's Minister of Defense and Economy, said after an emergency government meeting that both sides confirmed the end of operations, officials were « a little overconfident ».
President Joe Biden has been « closely monitoring events in Israel and Lebanon, » said Sean Chavet, a spokesman for the National Security Council. The Pentagon said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, and ordered the two U.S. carrier strike groups in the region to stay put. There was the US Army Builds its forces across the region in recent weeks.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General CQ Brown arrived in Israel late Sunday for what the Israeli military called « joint preparations in the region as part of a response to threats in the Middle East. »
All-out war was avoided for now
Danny Citrinowicz, an expert at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies, said Hezbollah may be trying to « balance the equation without turning into a war. » Each side hopes their story will be enough to declare victory and avoid a wider conflict, he said.
Hezbollah began attacking Israel immediately after the start of the war in Gaza, which was triggered by an October 7 attack by Hamas in southern Israel. Israel and Hezbollah exchange fire almost daily, displacing tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border.
Hezbollah is believed to have fought a standoff with Israel in 2006 Very powerful Now. The United States and Israel estimate that they have about 150,000 rockets capable of striking anywhere inside Israel. The group has developed drones and precision-guided munitions capable of evading Israel's defenses.
Israel has promised a crushing response to any major Hezbollah attack. It has an extensive multi-layered missile defense system and is backed by a US-led coalition that helped shoot down hundreds of missiles and drones launched from Iran earlier this year.
Hezbollah is a close ally of Iran He also threatened to retaliate against Israel For the killing of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month. Israel did not say whether it was involved.
Iranian state media reported the Hezbollah attack as a success, but there was no immediate comment from Iranian officials.
The United States and other mediators see a ceasefire in Gaza as key to avoiding a wider Middle East war. Hezbollah has said it will stop attacks on Israel if the ceasefire holds.
Sunday was aimed at talks in Cairo Reduces gaps A ceasefire and a plan to release Hamas prisoners. The talks included CIA Director William Burns and David Barnia, head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency.
Hamas representatives were briefed through Egyptian and Qatari mediators but did not directly participate in the talks.
In the occupied West Bank, Israel's military said it killed two people, one slightly injured, who allegedly tried to run over soldiers in Ariel.
___
Associated Press writers Karim Sehayeb in Beirut, Melanie Littman in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sami Magti in Cairo, Alexis Tribullard in Acre, Israel, and Amar Madani in Buellton, California contributed.
