Israel launched a wave of airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, moments before the militant group’s leader said two days of debilitating attacks on its members amounted to a declaration of war.

Tel Aviv conducts more than 50 strikes following deadly pager explosions earlier in week that killed 37, injured thousands in Lebanon

Israel bombed southern Lebanon on Thursday and said it had thwarted an Iranian-led assassination plot after explosions in booby-trapped radios and pagers in the past two days caused bloody havoc in the ranks of its arch-foe Hezbollah.

The two serial blasts that have killed dozens and injured thousands of its fighters have put the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has been involved in near-daily cross-border fire with Israel since Hamas's October 7 attacks sparked the war in Gaza,

Israel bombed southern Lebanon on Thursday and said it had thwarted an Iran-backed assassination plot, a day after explosions of Hezbollah radios followed blasts in booby trapped pagers, setting the foes hurtling towards war.

Lebanon says it fears Israel's ‘crimes’ more than Hezbollah's actions, Iran and Hezbollah vow to respond when needed.