JERUSALEM, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Herzi Halevi, chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said on Monday that Israel was preparing for "the next phases" after launching large-scale airstrikes in Lebanon earlier in the day.

"This morning, the IDF launched a proactive offensive operation," Halevi said during a situational assessment at the IDF Headquarters Underground Operations Center in Tel Aviv.

"We are dismantling military infrastructure that Hezbollah has constructed over the past 20 years," he added.

Also on Monday evening, Israel declared a "special" security situation nationwide on Monday night following approximately 1,300 airstrikes in Lebanon and rising concerns that Hezbollah may escalate its retaliatory rocket attacks.

IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari announced in a press briefing that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant made the decision to declare the "special situation on the home front" after a situation assessment. No new restrictions were implemented beyond those already in place in northern Israel due to ongoing Hezbollah rocket fire.

On Monday night, Hezbollah broadened its rocket fire range, targeting Haifa for the first time since the conflict began last October.

This escalation followed Israeli airstrikes in Beirut aimed at a senior Hezbollah commander. It marked Israel's most intense bombardment of Lebanon since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, prompting tens of thousands of Lebanese to evacuate in response to Israeli warnings.

"Challenging days are ahead of us," Hagari warned. He noted that the airstrikes targeted cruise missiles, heavy rockets, and short- to medium-range rockets capable of reaching up to 200 km, as well as other weapons Hezbollah allegedly conceals in residential areas in Lebanon. Enditem

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