Israel’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant, announced a 48-hour nationwide state of emergency after the military launched massive airstrikes on Lebanon.  

The military struck Lebanon with over 100 jets to thwart a bigger attack, while Hezbollah also launched hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel early on Sunday.

“The declaration on the state of emergency enables the IDF (Israeli military) to issue instructions to the citizens of Israel, including limiting gatherings and closing sites where it may be relevant,” Mr Gallant said in a statement on Monday. “I hereby declare a special situation on the home front in other areas of the country. The situation is valid for 48 hours starting at 6:00 a.m.”

The missiles fired by Hezbollah were visible, curling up through the dawn sky, dark vapour trails behind them, as an air raid siren sounded in Israel.

However, three deaths were confirmed in Lebanon but none in Israel.

Israel’s military further maintained that it had foiled a much larger attack with pre-emptive airstrikes after assessing that Hezbollah was preparing to launch the barrage, using 100 jets to strike more than 40 Hezbollah launch sites in southern Lebanon.

The strikes destroyed thousands of launcher barrels, aimed mostly at northern Israel but also targeting some central areas.

Hezbollah dismissed Israel’s statement that the group’s attack had been foiled with pre-emptive strikes, saying it had been able to launch its drones as planned and that the rest of its response to Shukr’s killing would take “some time”.