Major Israeli airstrikes are taking place in southern Lebanon according to Lebanese media as well as deep in the country in the Beqaa Valley.

The IDF said it was carrying out extensive raids against Hezbollah in Lebanon and would provide more details later.

At the same time sirens for incoming missiles have sounded in the border towns of Sasa and Netu’a in the Galilee.

The spokesman for the Israeli armed forces Daniel Hagari called on residents of southern Lebanon to stay away from Hezbollah positions. He added that Israel began hitting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon after it detected an intention on the part of Hezbollah to hit Israel.

Asked by reporters about a possible Israeli ground invasion inside Lebanon, Hagari said: “we will do whatever it takes” for residents who have fled their homes in northern Israel to return safely.

Reuters reporters in the southern port city of Tire could hear warplanes flying low over southern Lebanon while also hearing nearby the sound of a series of airstrikes.

Israel shot down a drone launched from Iraq over Syria

Meanwhile, the IDF confirms that a drone was launched overnight from Iraq to Israel via Syria, adding that it was successfully intercepted by Air Force warplanes.

The military says it has sounded the alarm in several Golan communities in accordance with standard protocol and that there are no casualties.

The Islamic Resistance yesterday claimed to have launched five similar drone attacks during the day. Some were apparently intercepted and none seem to have achieved their goal.