Hezbollah said it hit 11 Israeli military sites on Sunday, fired more than 320 rockets and sent drones into northern Israel. in response to the killing of the group’s top commander by Israel in an attack on a Beirut suburb last month. Hezbollah had vowed a strong response to the targeted killing of Fouad Shukur, raising fears that months of attacks could escalate into open war.

Early Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they had launched attacks in Lebanon. after it was determined that the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement was preparing to fire rockets and missiles at Israel. Israeli news agency Ynet cited reports from Lebanon that the air force had attacked 40 targets.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israel’s top military spokesman, said “dozens” of warplanes were attacking targets in southern Lebanon.He said air defense systems, warships and fighter jets were defending Israel’s airspace and were participating in the operation.

Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared a state of emergency for the next 48 hours.a declaration giving the Israeli military the authority to impose restrictions on the movement of civilians. The Israeli security cabinet was scheduled to meet at 7 a.m. local time.

Gallant spoke with his US counterpart Lloyd Austinabout the air strikes on Lebanon and assured the Minister of Defense that they were of a defensive nature.

US National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said: “President Biden is closely monitoring events in Israel and Lebanon.” “At his direction, senior U.S. officials have been communicating continuously with their Israeli counterparts,” Savett said. “We will continue to support Israel’s right to self-defense and remain committed to regional stability.”

Hezbollah said it had attacked an identified “special military target” as well as Israel’s Iron Dome platforms. and other sites, but the full response will take “some time,” Reuters reported. Hezbollah said its attack included more than 320 Katyusha rockets aimed at several sites in Israel, as well as a “large number” of drones.

Flights to and from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv have been temporarily suspendedand the Israeli cabinet was scheduled to meet at 7 a.m. (4 a.m. GMT), Israeli media reported. Air raid sirens were reported across northern Israel.

The attacks came as Egypt is hosting a new round of talks aimed at ending the war between Israel and Hamas, now in its eleventh month.