Israel launched a wave of airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, just as the militant group’s leader said two days of exploding pagers and walkie-talkies amounted to a declaration of war.

With the danger of a wider Middle East war looming, Israel on Friday bombarded part of the Lebanese capital, killing at least 12 people and wounding 66 others, Lebanese authorities said. The strike came just days after thousands of sabotaged electronic devices exploded across the country,

Israel carried out one of the most intense bombardments of the past year, as warplanes launched 70 airstrikes, Lebanese security officials said. The barrage came shortly after Hezbollah’s leader vowed to respond after explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies killed at least 37 people.