Israeli warplanes pounded on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, hitting hundreds of rocket launcher barrels that were about to be used to immediately fire towards Israeli territory, the military stated.

The Israeli military said it was striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Thursday, shortly before the movement's leader was due to give a speech. It also said the military chief of staff had approved plans for Israel's north,

The IDF said the targets were ready to be used “in the immediate future” to fire into Israeli territory. (Credit: IDF)

The attack came as the militant group’s leader said two days of pager and walkie-talkie explosions amounted to a declaration of war.

Israel strikes southern Lebanon as Hezbollah says device blasts are ‘act of war’ - Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah blames Israel for attacks on group's communications devices that left 37 dead

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said it struck hundreds of rocket launcher sites across southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah's leader attacked Israel for crossing a "red line".

Walkie-talkies exploded in Hezbollah’s Beirut stronghold on Wednesday, killing 3 and injuring over 100. This followed a deadly attack on Tuesday, whe

Lebanon is reeling after 32 people have now been killed in two days of device explosions across Beirut and other cities. Hand-held walkie-talkie radios used by armed group Hezbollah detonated across Lebanon's south on Wednesday,