Israel Strikes Hezbollah Bases In Lebanon During Its Chief Nasrallah’s Speech In The Wake Of Deadly Pager Blasts

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on Thursday said it was striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon around the same time when its leader Hassan Nasrallah was addressing the group’s adherents and Lebanese people.Nasrallah was addressing the group’s adherents after hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah exploded across Lebanon in unprecedented attacks this week, killing 37 people and wounding more than 2,900.Israeli warplanes broke the sound barrier over Beirut during a speech by Hezbollah’s leader, according to Lebanese state media.“The IDF is currently striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon to degrade Hezbollah’s terrorist capabilities and infrastructure. For decades, Hezbollah has weaponized civilian homes, dug tunnels beneath them and used civilians as human shields—having turned southern Lebanon into a war zone,” the IDF said in a press release.The IDF vowed to help displaced Israelis return to northern Israel’s areas that share a border with Lebanon.“The IDF is operating to bring security to northern Israel in order to enable the return of residents to their homes and achieve war goals,” it said.However, Nasrallah in his speech vowed that displaced Israelis will never be able to return to northern Israel.