Israeli artillery and airstrikes targeted southern Lebanon this morning following Israel’s announcement of intercepting rockets fired from the region, jeopardizing a fragile truce that had concluded a year-long conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
This conflict represented the deadliest spillover from the Gaza war, which persisted for several months before culminating in an Israeli operation that resulted in the deaths of top Hezbollah commanders, numerous fighters, and significant destruction of its armory.
The exchanges today marked the first hostilities since Israel seemingly abandoned a separate ceasefire in Gaza with Hamas, a Palestinian militant group allied with Hezbollah and both supported by Iran, Israel’s principal adversary.
This morning, the Israeli military reported intercepting three rockets fired from a Lebanese area located approximately 6 km north of the border, marking the second cross-border launch since a US-brokered ceasefire in November concluded the conflict.
In response to the rocket fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz instructed the military to “respond decisively against numerous terror targets in Lebanon,” Mr. Netanyahu remarked in a statement.
In a separate announcement, the Israeli military confirmed it was conducting airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon’s state news agency reported a series of Israeli airstrikes and artillery attacks in the war-torn southern regions, including border towns and elevations located about 8 km deep into Lebanese territory.
According to the state news agency NNA, two individuals were killed, and eight others were injured by Israeli airstrikes near the southern border, as cited from Lebanon’s health ministry.
An Israeli army Merkava main battle tank was deployed at a position in northern Israel along the southern Lebanon border on March 18.
No casualties have been reported in Israel.
‘Volatile’
Under the terms of the November ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah was to have no weaponry in southern Lebanon, Israeli ground forces were to retreat, and troops from the Lebanese army were to take control of the area.
The deal mandates that Lebanon’s government must dismantle all military infrastructures in southern Lebanon and confiscate any unauthorized weaponry.
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President Joseph Aoun directed the Lebanese army to secure against “any violations” that might threaten Lebanon’s stability. The army reported the discovery and dismantling of three “primitive rocket launchers” in the south.
Mr. Netanyahu stated that Israel holds the Lebanese government accountable for “everything occurring within its borders.” He emphasized that Israel would not permit any threats to its citizens and sovereignty, pledging to do everything possible to ensure the safety of the Israeli populace and northern communities.
UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, expressed alarm in a written statement on Saturday regarding the border violence.
“Any further escalation of this volatile situation could have serious repercussions for the region,” it warned.
Israeli artillery shelling targeted the area surrounding the southern Lebanese village of Yohmor.
The Irish Department of Defence confirmed the safety of Irish peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon.
In his statement, Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris expressed “deep concern over the latest surge of violence and tensions between Israel and Lebanon.”
The Tánaiste asserted, “It is absolutely crucial that all parties exercise restraint at this time.”
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam cautioned against a resurgence of military actions in the southern region.
“All security and military measures must be enforced to demonstrate that Lebanon is in control of decisions pertaining to war and peace,” he stated.
The ceasefire was intended to halt Israel’s extensive bombardment and ground incursions in Lebanon, alongside Hezbollah’s daily rocket attacks on Israel. However, both sides have accused one another of failing to fully enact the agreement.
Israel contends that Hezbollah maintains military capabilities in the south, while Lebanon and Hezbollah assert that Israel is illegally occupying Lebanese territory by continuing airstrikes and maintaining troops at five positions atop hills near the frontier.
