Israel ‘preparing to target Iran’s oil fields in revenge attack’ after vowing Tehran ‘will pay’ over 180 missile blitz

by Nick Parker, Foreign Editor, in northern Israel

I’D just ordered a coffee in a roadside cafe on my way back from Israel’s northern war zone when the alert flashed up on my phone.

It read: “Iran is preparing an imminent ballistic missile attack against Israel. Please take cover as soon as possible.”

I was sitting in a pizza restaurant in a much-rocketed area north of the coastal port of Haifa when the warning pinged in my pocket.

Moments later I saw other diners picking up their phones as warnings reached them but was impressed by their stoicism as they carried on munching on their margaritas.

These were people who have endured daily rocket attacks from Hezbollah for nearly a year but even they began to shuffle in their seats as more warnings appeared on their mobile security apps.

This was clearly something much bigger than the daily Hezbollah barrage from the north.

And moments later we were jammed in the door as it was confirmed that more than a hundred Iranian ballistic missiles flying at 14 times the speed of sound were on their way.

This was confirmed to be only the first of several waves of attacks heading out way.

We ran across the road into a concrete shelter where English speakers told me to expect to be stuck there for some time as I tapped out my story using the glow of my laptop screen.

Then moments later the first booms split the air high above as Iron Dome interceptors engaged the incoming rockets.

I - probably very foolishly - took a sneak peek into the sky outside and watched trails of red rockets racing up to meet the missiles in a spectacular but potentially deadly firework display.

But scary spectaculars like this have become a way of life for the people of northern Israel - who clearly trust the boffins whose rocket wizardry had saved their lives yet again.

It remained unclear whether Iran’s terror masters had inflicted death or destruction as they attempted to decimate their hated enemy.

And this may be just the first of many terrifying tests for the people of Israel, their enemies and the millions caught in the crossfire as the threat of a catastrophic war looms.

By Foreign News Reporter Juliana Cruz Lima

Following the 2006 Lebanon War, in which Israel and Hezbollah fought to a bloody standstill, the terror group began preparing for the next conflict.

They constructed a vast underground network across southern Lebanon.

The lessons of that war, in which Hezbollah’s small, mobile units were able to surprise and sometimes overpower Israeli forces, have been embedded in its military doctrine ever since.

The tunnels are now a key part of this strategy, allowing Hezbollah to replicate the tactics of insurgencies around the world: strike fast, disappear, and use the enemy’s size and strength against them.

Some of these tunnels have been found stretching into Israeli territory, designed to facilitate surprise raids deep inside northern Israel.

In 2018, the IDF launched Operation Northern Shield, a months-long mission to detect and destroy Hezbollah’s cross-border tunnels.

The discovery of these tunnels — some reinforced with concrete and running dozens of meters underground — revealed just how advanced Hezbollah’s capabilities had become.

Last month, Hezbollah revealed its hidden terror tunnel network from which missiles can be launched in a chilling threat to Israel.

A blood-curdling video released by the Lebanese terrorists revealed a giant underground roads with enough room for lorries to transport their deadly weapons.

Posters of leaders and soldiers adorn the tall stone walls as heavily armed men speed through the "missile city" in motorbikes.

Trucks loaded with enormous missiles make their way through the dark roads in a frightening glimpse of the terrorists' arsenal.

Drone footage then shows the seemingly endless terror maze, which also appears to be home to military tech and computers.

Inside the terror tunnels, Hezbollah fighters can move unseen, store weapons, and launch ambushes, creating a dangerous cat-and-mouse game with the IDF.

They can also move into a much larger network of bunkers, missile silos, and command centres, deeply embedded in civilian areas.

These tunnels - which can stretch for miles - link critical positions, allowing Hezbollah fighters to emerge, strike, and then vanish back underground before Israel can respond.

Reports also suggest that Hezbollah has been expanding its tunnel network in southern Lebanon in recent weeks.