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[text/observer network yan shanshan] after the horrific large-scale explosion of communications equipment in lebanon, israel, which was preparing to respond to the counterattack, announced a new round of so-called "preemptive" strikes against hezbollah in lebanon. hezbollah responded by launching rockets into northern israel overnight.

according to reports from cnn and the times of israel, the israel defense forces said on september 21 local time that it launched several rounds of air strikes in lebanon that afternoon and evening, aimed at attacking hezbollah's "launch devices used to fire at israeli territory."

the israeli army said it had hit about 400 hezbollah rocket launchers and thousands of hezbollah launchers. the lebanese national news agency said that on the evening of the 21st local time, in less than 40 minutes, many places in southern lebanon were hit by more than 50 rounds of air strikes.

in retaliation, hezbollah in lebanon said it fired "dozens of rockets" at the ramat david air base and airport in northern israel overnight. al jazeera said this was the first time hezbollah had fired rockets into the area and the farthest target in israel that hezbollah had attacked since october last year.

al jazeera said this was the largest exchange of fire between the two sides since the conflict escalated in october last year. the us state department issued a travel warning on the 21st, urging its citizens to leave lebanon as soon as possible.

"the largest-scale exchange of fire between lebanon and israel since october last year"

an idf spokesman said israel carried out "extensive strikes" in southern lebanon after discovering hezbollah planned to "attack israeli territory with rockets," while vowing to continue striking hezbollah to "destroy and weaken" its capabilities.

according to the lebanese national news agency, the israeli air strikes targeted southern lebanese towns such as tir harfa, shihin and al-jibeen.

meanwhile, israel said it was preparing for the "possibility of an imminent large-scale attack" by hezbollah in lebanon. the israeli government warned on the 21st that hezbollah could launch an attack "in a very short time" and imposed more restrictions on residents of haifa and other northern areas of israel.

hezbollah in lebanon launched a counterattack with rockets overnight, targeting israel's ramat david air force base, about 50 kilometers from the lebanese-israeli border. al jazeera said that according to pictures and videos circulated online, some rockets were intercepted, but some still had an impact on the ground.

the idf said about 10 rockets were fired from lebanon into northern israel overnight, and "all but one were intercepted." medical staff said a man in his 60s was slightly injured by debris from the interception.

hezbollah issued a statement saying that this was a retaliation for attacks in many parts of lebanon and the deaths of civilians, but did not mention that this was a retaliation for the attacks on the 17th and 18th, the explosion of communication equipment, and the assassination of its commander. al jazeera said that this means that hezbollah may take "more retaliatory actions."

in addition, the israel defense forces said that throughout the day on the 21st, northern israel was attacked by about 90 rockets launched from lebanon.

israel's public broadcaster said schools in the israeli towns of acre, nahariya, tiberias and safed would be closed following hezbollah attacks in northern israel. the times of israel added that schools in haifa would also be closed.

the death toll in lebanon is still rising as the conflict may escalate further. the lebanese minister of health said on the 21st that israel's attacks on lebanon in the past few days have killed a total of 82 people, including 38 people who died in the attack launched by israel on the southern suburbs of beirut, the capital of lebanon, on the 20th.

us urges citizens to leave lebanon as soon as possible

on september 21, local time, us president’s national security advisor sullivan said that as the threat is “more serious,” “the risk of escalation does exist” between israel and hezbollah in lebanon.

asked whether israel's attack in southern beirut was an escalation, sullivan denied it, saying that when it comes to escalation, the discussion is about where the situation is going. "from that perspective, are we going to end up in a larger war? not yet. i hope we won't get to that point."

on september 21, local time, the us state department issued the latest travel warning to lebanon, adjusted to the highest level four - "do not travel", and urged american citizens to leave lebanon while commercial flights are still operating.

the u.s. state department said that due to the continued unpredictable conflict between israel and hezbollah in lebanon and the explosions across lebanon, including beirut, the u.s. embassy urged american citizens to leave lebanon while commercial routes are still available. currently, commercial flights are still operating, but at reduced capacity.

the statement said the u.s. embassy may not be able to assist american citizens who choose to stay in lebanon, and warned american citizens in lebanon that if they choose to stay in lebanon, they should be prepared to seek shelter in place if the situation deteriorates further.

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