Israel has reported conducting a series of pre-emptive airstrikes across southern Lebanon to counter a potential large-scale rocket and drone assault by Hezbollah.

According to the Israeli military, fighter jets targeted and destroyed thousands of rocket launchers belonging to the Iran-backed group early on Sunday morning.

In response, Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal movement, claimed that three of their fighters were killed. Despite the strikes, Hezbollah stated it managed to launch 320 rockets and drones towards Israel in retaliation for the assassination of a senior commander. The Israeli military confirmed the death of an Israeli navy soldier during this exchange.

This escalation marks a significant increase in hostilities following nearly ten months of intermittent conflict, raising concerns about the possibility of a full-scale war.

Since the onset of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on October 7, there have been near-daily exchanges of fire across the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah has claimed its actions are in support of Hamas, which, like Hezbollah, is backed by Iran and designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the UK, and other countries.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, more than 560 people have been killed since October, predominantly Hezbollah fighters, while Israeli authorities report 26 civilian and 23 military deaths in Israel. The UN has also noted that nearly 200,000 people have been displaced on both sides of the border.

The Israeli attack early Sunday was the largest since the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that around 100 fighter jets struck and destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers in over 40 locations across southern Lebanon.

IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari indicated that the strikes were carried out following the identification of “extensive preparation” for a large-scale attack by Hezbollah.

Lebanese state media reported that Israeli strikes targeted Beaufort Castle, the Bir Kalb area, and the outskirts of various towns including Ain Qana, Kfar Fila, Louaizeh, Bsalia, Kfar Melki, Sajd, and Sarba. A resident of Zibqeen described the situation as feeling “like the apocalypse.”