Hezbollah raises military alert in response to Israeli threats: sources-Xinhua

This photo taken on June 7, 2024 shows a building destroyed during an Israeli strike in Kafr Kila, Lebanon. Hezbollah raised its military readiness in all its deployment areas on Friday in anticipation of any military escalation following repeated Israeli threats, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua.(Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah raised its military readiness in all its deployment areas on Friday in anticipation of any military escalation following repeated Israeli threats, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua.

Hezbollah's step comes a day after Commander of the Northern Command of the Israeli army, Ori Gordin, announced the completion of deployment for a major attack against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The military sources, who spoke anonymously, told Xinhua that Hezbollah had placed its members and leaders on maximum alert along the borderline in southern Lebanon and in the remote rear areas as well, especially the Baalbek region in eastern Lebanon.

The sources added that Israeli warplanes carried out seven airstrikes in southern Lebanon during the dawn and morning hours on Friday.

In a statement, Hezbollah said it has fired air defense missiles "at the enemy warplanes that were attacking our skies and broke the sound barrier in an attempt to terrify the children, which forced them to retreat to behind the borders."

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. ■