After the round of heavy fire, both Israel and Hezbollah sought to play down any further escalation, cooling off the conflict in the interim.
In a speech, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the attack Sunday was part of the militia group’s response to Israel’s killing of top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr last month.
“If the result is satisfactory and achieves the intended goal, we will consider the response operation to be concluded,” Nasrallah said. “If the result is not sufficient, we reserve the right to respond until further notice.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also appeared to refrain from any further escalation but warned that his military’s attack was “an additional step” toward “changing the situation” at the border with Lebanon.
“What happened today is not the end of the story,” he said at the start of a governmental meeting Sunday.
The U.S. provided intelligence to support Israel’s defense but did not shoot down Hezbollah rockets or drones, said Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
“Israel was able to do that with its own organic capabilities and systems,” he told reporters Monday.
Israel said it struck Hezbollah launchers and launch sites in a preemptive attack against an imminent threat from the Iranian-backed group in Lebanon.
Shortly after, Hezbollah launched its barrage of rockets and drones that it claimed hit military sites in Israel.
One Israeli soldier died in the exchange, likely hit by shrapnel or an interceptor. Two Hezbollah fighters and one allied fighter were killed in Israel’s strikes.
The attack comes as Iran has also vowed to respond to Israel for the death of top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month.
Iran has held off for weeks, and it’s not clear if they are preparing to launch an attack of their own soon.
Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, said in a post on X on Sunday that retaliation “is definitive, and will be measured & well calculated.”
“We do not fear escalation, yet do not seek it—unlike Israel,” he wrote.
The Biden administration said Monday it continues to assess threats to Israel but remains confident in two aircraft carrier strike groups deployed in the region.
“We have to assume that Iran remains postured and prepared should that be a decision that they make,” said White House national security spokesperson John Kirby, in a briefing. “Which is why we continue to maintain a very robust force posture in the region.”
