Israel-Gaza live updates: Sirens sound in Tel Aviv as Hamas fires rocket from Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday described his country's preemptive strikes within Lebanon as a "strong action to foil the threats" raised by a potential attack by Hezbollah.

"It has eliminated thousands of rockets that were aimed at northern Israel," Netanyahu said as he convened his Security Cabinet for a meeting at 7 a.m. local time. "It is thwarting many other threats and is taking very strong action -- both defensively and offensively."

Netanyahu had earlier in the morning been managing the situation with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant from the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, his office said. The prime minister's office released photos of the pair meeting with military officials.

"We are determined to do everything to defend our country, to return the residents of the north securely to their homes and to continue upholding a simple rule: Whoever harms us -- we will harm them," Netanyahu said.

-ABC News' Kevin Shalvey

The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday said it had destroyed "thousands" of Hezbollah rocket launchers.

"Approximately 100 IAF fighter jets, directed by IDF intelligence, struck and destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rocket launcher barrels that were located and embedded in southern Lebanon," the military said in a statement.

13:10

Hezbollah fires rockets at Israel after IDF launches preemptive strike

The Biden administration said it was concerned the attacks would "derail any hopes of a cease-fire with Hamas."

The statement added, "Most of these launchers were aimed toward northern Israel and some were aimed toward central Israel. More than 40 launches areas in Lebanon were struck during the strikes."

-ABC News' Will Gretsky and Kevin Shalvey

The Israeli Air Force launched "dozens" of planes to attack locations throughout southern Lebanon, saying it was continuing "to remove threats, to vigorously attack the terrorist organization Hezbollah."

"Israel's air defense systems, navy ships and Air Force planes are on a defense mission above the country's skies, identifying, intercepting threats and attacking wherever in Lebanon it is required in order to remove threats and harm Hezbollah," Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said.

The aerial strikes within Lebanon were coming as Israeli defenses were dealing with "different types of threats," including scores of rockets and drones launched into Israeli airspace, he said.

"We have already intercepted a number of rockets and unmanned aerial vehicles that approached the territory of the State of Israel," Hagari said.

He added, "We warn the Lebanese citizens in South Lebanon. We recognize that Hezbollah is firing in a large area near your homes. You are in danger. We attack and remove Hezbollah threats."

-ABC News' Will Gretsky and Kevin Shalvey

Hezbollah claimed early on Sunday to have launched more than 320 rockets toward 11 military locations within Israel and Golan Heights.

The "enemy sites" that had been targeted were detailed in a statement. They included military bases in Meron, Ein Zeytim and Al-Sahl.

Barracks in Naveh Ziv, Ramot Naftali and Zaoura were also among the sites targeted, Hezbollah said.

The group described those launches as a "first stage," saying they were "targeting Israeli barracks and sites to facilitate the passage of offensive drones towards their desired target deep inside" Israel.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky and Kevin Shalvey