War between Israel and Gaza, live | Hezbollah fired more than 300 rockets against Israel and dozens of planes bombed Lebanon | International

Netanyahu on shootout with Hezbollah: “Whoever harms us, we will harm them”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken out about the exchange of fire with Lebanon during the early hours of the morning. “Whoever harms us, we will harm,” the Israeli leader warned, adding that he would make “every effort to defend the country” following a wave of massive strikes by Israeli aircraft against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.

“This morning we learned of Hezbollah’s preparations to attack Israel. In consultation with the defense minister and the chief of staff, we ordered the Israel Defense Forces to act proactively to eliminate the threat,” Netanyahu said at the start of his meeting with the security cabinet to address the situation.

The Israeli president highlighted that the army has worked “vigorously” to thwart threats, destroying thousands of rockets and acting “with full force in both defense and attack.”

Netanyahu directed the operation against Lebanon at dawn from the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv together with Defense Minister Yoav Galant, who declared a state of military emergency and contacted his US counterpart Lloyd Austin and informed him of what had happened. (Efe)