Israeli warplanes have reportedly been heard over Beirut as tensions between Israel and Lebanon reach breaking point.
Sonic booms could be heard across the Lebanese capital on Thursday afternoon, two days after the pager attack on Hezbollah and a day after the walkie-talkie explosions.
Videos being circulated on social media show Israeli fighter jets flying low and shooting flares.
The latest development came as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah conceded the group had suffered a “major and unprecedented” blow, and vowed revenge.
In a televised address, Nasrallah said: “We will not fall, and we will come out stronger. We are preparing to face even worse attacks.”
The terror chief blamed Israel for the pager and walkie-talkie attacks and said they “violated all red lines”.
In his first public address since the dramatic blasts, Nasrallah claimed: “On Tuesday, Israel intended to kill 4,000 people in one minute by detonating the pagers. Many of them were civilians.
“The following day, 1,000 more in one minute. In two minutes, Israel intended to kill 5,000.”
He called the attacks "a major terrorist operation”.
“We have established several internal investigation committees, explored all scenarios and possibilities, and have reached an almost final conclusion: these massacres amount to war crimes or a declaration of war."
He went on to prepare citizens to celebrate the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7: “Shortly, we will celebrate the one year anniversary of the blessed Al-Aqsa flood operation.”
He added that there was “no doubt” that Hezbollah, had “registered impressive achievements in the north of Israel.”
“We tell [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, [Defense Minister Yoav] Gallant and the Israeli people: We will not stop our attacks as long as the enemy does not halt its war in Gaza.”
Earlier today, the Israel Defence Force said it was carrying out strikes to destroy Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
“The IDF is currently striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon to degrade Hezbollah’s terrorist capabilities and infrastructure.
“For decades, Hezbollah has weaponized civilian homes, dug tunnels beneath them and used civilians as human shields—having turned southern Lebanon into a war zone.
“The IDF is operating to bring security to northern Israel in order to enable the return of residents to their homes and achieve war goals.” the IDF said.
Lebanon’s Health Minister said that 37 people were killed and 2,931 wounded in the attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday, after handheld devices used by Hezbollah members exploded.
