Israeli warplanes strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon

The Israeli military says its warplanes are striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after detecting attempts to fire missiles and rockets toward Israel.

“In an act of self-defense to eliminate these threats, the IDF is striking terrorist targets,” IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said.

Israel said Lebanese civilians had been warned to immediately leave areas where Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shiite Muslim group, was operating.

Shortly after, Hezbollah announced it had launched a large-scale drone strike against Israel in response to the assassination last month of the group’s top military commander.

In northern Israel, rocket warning sirens were heard early Sunday.

No injuries were immediately reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he is calling an urgent meeting of his security cabinet.

Israel has been exchanging fire with the Lebanon-based militant group since the start of a war last October with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.