IDF jet strikes Hezbollah terror cell in Lebanon, Hagari affirms Israel will defend itself

“Since the Hamas massacre of October 7, Hezbollah has been increasing its attacks against Israel," IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said.

ISRAEL HAS to examine carefully how much the US wants to sell the F35 to the UAE.  (photo credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS)
ISRAEL HAS to examine carefully how much the US wants to sell the F35 to the UAE.
(photo credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS)

An IDF jet struck Hezbollah terror infrastructure in Lebanese territory, the IDF said on Sunday.

The jet also targeted a terrorist cell in Lebanon that had attempted to fire an anti-tank missile into Israel.

In an English press statement on Sunday, IDF Spokesperson R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari reiterated that the IDF will continue to take whatever measures are necessary to protect Israeli citizens from the Lebanon-based terrorist group.

IDF strikes Hezbollah terror cell in Lebanon. December 17, 2023. (Credit: IDF)

"Hezbollah attacks have killed and displaced tens of thousands of Israelis"

“Since the Hamas massacre of October 7, Hezbollah has been increasing its attacks against Israel: firing rockets, missiles, and drones; killing Israeli civilians and soldiers; and displacing over 80,000 Israelis from their homes in the North," Hagari said.

He described how Israel's response to these attacks has been to strike at Hezbollah targets inside Lebanese territory.

IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari gives a statement to the media in Tel Aviv on October 16, 2023 (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90)
IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari gives a statement to the media in Tel Aviv on October 16, 2023 (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90)

Hagari said that the actions of the Iranian proxy in Lebanon are dragging the entire country into a war that would have serious and underserved repercussions for the Lebanese people.

"When it comes to existential threats, we regard every day as though it’s October 6, so that the Hamas massacre of October 7 never happens again — on any one of our borders," he said.

"Until and unless a diplomatic solution is found and implemented" regarding the Hezbollah problem, the IDF "will continue making the necessary preparations to remove the threat from our border.”

Hagari's comments come in the wake of a Friday CNN report that found Israel had struck the US-backed Lebanese Armed Forces, rather than Lebanon-based terror groups, 34 times since the Gaza War began.

According to CNN, citing American officials, the Biden administration told Israel that such strikes are unacceptable.