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The Israeli anti-missile system successfully intercepted rockets fired from Lebanon near Kiryat Shmona on September 18, 2024. This interception follows a day of escalating tensions and exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah.

At 20:59, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced a large-scale wave of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah assets across Lebanon, including in the capital city Beirut. Brigadier-General Daniel Hagari, IDF's spokesperson, highlighted that the strikes would concentrate on significant economic assets used to finance Hezbollah's activities, urging civilians near such sites to evacuate immediately.

Earlier in the day, around 19:58, the IDF confirmed inadvertently killing three Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) soldiers. They were traveling in an unmarked truck near an active IDF operation area. The incident raised concerns, even though marked LAF vehicles arriving at the scene were not targeted. The IDF emphasized that the Lebanese army and state sites are not targets, as LAF has not engaged in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed an ongoing U.S. investigation into leaked "Top Secret" documents from the Pentagon, which were disseminated through an Iranian-affiliated Telegram channel. These documents, purportedly related to Israeli preparations for a strike on Iran, have raised alarms in Washington.

Northern Israel faced multiple rocket attacks throughout the day. By 15:00, roughly 160 rockets had been launched from Lebanon, necessitating the intervention of the Israel Fire and Rescue Service to control fires in Safed, Rosh Pina, and the Western Galilee, with no injuries reported.

In a separate development, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed with former U.S. President Donald Trump, affirming that Israel will make decisions based on its national interests, even while considering U.S. concerns. Trump's remarks at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania indicated Netanyahu's stance of not following President Joe Biden's directives.

Further intensifying the situation, the IDF reported the destruction of approximately 175 terror targets in Lebanon and Gaza within the last 24 hours. This included close-quarters combat in southern Lebanon, resulting in the elimination of over 65 Hezbollah operatives, along with various militant cells and rocket launchers.

As tensions escalate, the IDF urged residents in Beirut's Dahiya district to evacuate, anticipating further strikes. Alerts of suspected hostile aircraft in the Golan Heights and frequent siren activations in Kiryat Shmona and the Upper Galilee have kept the region on high alert.

The rapid developments point to a severe escalation in hostilities, with significant implications for the region's stability and international relations.