Israeli Army Renews Strikes Against Hezbollah Across Lebanon (Videos)

Illustrative image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched late on March 23 a second wave of strikes against targets of Hezbollah in response to a morning rocket attack from Lebanon that the group denied responsibility for.

The attack, which saw at least six rockets fired from southern Lebanon at the northern Israeli settlement of Metula, didn’t cause any injuries or damage. The IDF said that three of the rockets were intercepted by its air defenses. The other three rockets fell short within Lebanese territories. This was the first such attack from Lebanon since December.

Hezbollah denied responsibility for the attack. In a statement, the group stressed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States last November.

Despite this, the IDF held the Lebanese government responsible for the rocket attack and directed its response against Hezbollah.

The rocket attack “is a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon and a direct threat to Israeli citizens,” the military said, adding that “the State of Lebanon bears responsibility for upholding the agreement.”

In an initial morning response, the IDF artillery and tanks shelled several towns in southern Lebanon without causing any losses.

Later in the afternoon, the first wave of strikes hit dozens of Hezbollah rocket launchers and a command center used by the group in Lebanon, according to the military. Lebanon’s Ministry of Health announced that five people were killed, including a child, and another 11 were wounded.

The second wave of strikes began in the evening, with Lebanese media reporting attacks in the south of the country, in the coastal city of Tyre, in the eastern Beqaa Valley, and in the Hermel area in northern Lebanon. A man was killed and seven others were injured in Tyre and five people were injured in another strike in Hermel, according to the Health Ministry.

From its side, the IDF said that the strikes destroyed Hezbollah command centers, infrastructure, operatives, rocket launchers, and a weapons depot.

Amid the strikes, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned his country was at risk of being drawn into a “new war” with Israel.

“All security and military measures must be taken to show that Lebanon decides on matters of war and peace,” the primer said in a statement.

“Salam warned of renewed military operations on the southern border, because of the risks they carry dragging the country into a new war, which will bring woes to Lebanon and the Lebanese people,” he added.

The U.S.-brokered ceasefire was supposed to end all clashes on the Israeli-Lebanese border by February 18. However, the IDF continues to launch strikes against Hezbollah. It also continues to deploy troops at five strategic posts in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah has so far refrained from responding, likely due to the heavy losses it took during the last confrontation with the IDF which broke out as a result of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.

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MORE ON THIS TOPIC:

• Israel Responds To Rocket Fire From Lebanon With Deadly Strikes (Videos)
• Rockets From Lebanon Hit Northern Israel In First Attack Since December (Videos)