Israelis stage heavy airstrikes in Lebanon and Hezbollah launches drone attack on Israel

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has launched a series of intense airstrikes in southern Lebanon in what it called a pre-emptive strike against the Hezbollah militant group, threatening to trigger a broader regionwide war that could torpedo efforts to forge a cease-fire in Gaza. Soon after, Hezbollah announced it launched an attack on Israel with a large number of drones in retaliation for the killing of one of its commanders in Beirut. Air raid sirens were reported throughout northern Israel early Sunday, and Israel’s Ben-Gurion international airport began diverting incoming flights and delaying takeoffs.