More than 300 rockets and drones fired by militant group Hezbollah reached Israeli territory, an Israeli spokesman said in a press conference this afternoon.
The barrage followed a “pre-emptive strike” by Israeli forces against Hezbollah early this morning, raising fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Hezbollah projectiles reached central Israel, the spokesman said, but he would not confirm details of any damage.
The spokesman also said that Israel “does not seek an all-out war”, but repeated comments made by Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, that “whoever harms us will be harmed”.
“We will exact a heavy price for any aggressions,” the spokesman said, adding that Hezbollah and Iran have formed an “axis of evil” that have “formed a stranglehold on Israel”.
Israel introduced a censorship order this afternoon, banning journalists from reporting on details of any damage caused by the Hezbollah attack.
A Hezbollah official said the group worked to ensure its response to the Israeli killing of one of its top commanders would not trigger a full-scale war.
Mr Netanyahu said Sunday’s strikes in Lebanon were “not the final word” in his country’s military campaign against Hezbollah.
