Extracts: Described in 2018 as the "world's most heavily armed non-state actor" and listed as a terrorist organisation by Australia, the United States, Britain and others, Hezbollah has a significant arsenal that includes long-range and guided missiles
*If Israel's military is telling the truth, by launching a purported "pre-emptive strike" on Hezbollah missile sites, the Jewish state has had a great intelligence success and blunted an attack it had been fearing for weeks
Hezbollah's promised revenge was short and caused one Israeli death
But as is usually the case between these enemies, it is possible for both sides to claim victory
What we know — and don't know — about the strikes
Hezbollah one of the world's most prominent Shia organisations, says its attack was always going to be focused on specific military sites, mostly near the border with Lebanon and that Israel prevented nothing
The group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said Israel bombed "empty valleys" and only damaged two fixed launch sites that had already been evacuated
"It [Israel's strikes] had no impact whatsoever on our military operation today," he said in an hour-long speech that was part apology to the Lebanese people and part justification for making them suffer 11 months of Israeli retaliatory strikes since Hezbollah starting firing rockets and drones at Israel in support of Hamas last October 2023
The Israeli military said its strikes yesterday prevented thousands of missiles, mostly short-range, from being launched
Israel has been preparing for Hezbollah's "revenge" for more three weeks now and for a potential war with the group since October 2023
The Israelis have long considered Hezbollah a far bigger threat than Hamas in Gaza, focusing more attention and resources on *finding and tracking their weapons, so it does seem more likely that Israel's version of events is true
