The Israel Defense Forces announced Sunday morning it was conducting strikes against the terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon after the group had attacked northern Israel.

Khaled Meshal, one of Hamas’s most senior officials, said in an interview that the militant group expects to play a decisive role in the enclave when the war is over.

First came two days of exploding pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah — deadly attacks pinned on Israel that also maimed civilians around Lebanon. Hezbollah's leader vowed to retaliate, and on Friday the militant group launched dozens of rockets into northern Israel.