"Roads in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon were clogged early Monday as families fled north after fighting flared between Israel and Hezbollah. Footage shows heavy traffic inching forward, while missiles - believed to have been launched from Lebanon - streaked across the night sky. The IDF issued urgent evacuation warnings for approximately 55 villages and towns in southern Lebanon, as the Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched airstrikes across the country, focusing on the Dahiyeh suburb of Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and southern regions near Tyre. Israel said it began striking targets in Lebanon after Hezbollah launched a series of drones and rockets targeting the Mishmar HaCarmel missile defense site south of Haifa. The IDF said that it intercepted at least one projectile, while others landed in open areas. No casualties have been reported. "Hezbollah opened a campaign against Israel overnight, and is fully responsible for any escalation. IDF troops have prepared for such a scenario as part of standard combat preparations for Operation Roaring Lion," stated IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir. Hezbollah said the assault was in retaliation for the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and was carried out "in defence of Lebanon and its people." Iranian state television had earlier confirmed that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in strikes carried out on Saturday. The Supreme Leader, who had ruled since 1989, held ultimate authority over Iran's political, military and religious institutions. Iranian officials warned that Khamenei's killing would mark a turning point, with the Revolutionary Guard vowing retaliation and declaring that "this great crime will not go unpunished.""