Israel launches new airstrikes on Lebanon in response to cross-border attack.

On Saturday morning, several rockets were fired from Lebanon towards the northern border town of Metula in Israel. In response, the Israeli military carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, including a command center of the organization.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that three rockets from Lebanon crossed the Israeli border and were intercepted by the Israeli military’s air defense system, while another three rockets failed to successfully cross the border.

As of now, there have been no reports of casualties or property damage inside Israel.

This is the second rocket attack since December last year, raising concerns once again about the sustainability of the ceasefire. Hezbollah denied responsibility for the latest rocket attack, stating that they were not involved in the incident.

Hezbollah also mentioned that they remain committed to maintaining a ceasefire with Israel.

No organization has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Israeli officials stated that the party behind the attack has not been confirmed. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a declaration that in response, the military has been ordered to conduct “strong strikes on dozens of terrorist targets in Lebanon.”

The IDF reported conducting airstrikes on dozens of Hezbollah rocket launchers and a Hezbollah command center in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that the Israeli strikes on the southern village of Touline resulted in two deaths and eight injuries.

According to the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hezbollah in November last year, Hezbollah is not allowed to possess any weapons in southern Lebanon, Israeli ground forces have withdrawn from the region, and the Lebanese army has been deployed there.

The ceasefire agreement stipulates that the Lebanese government is responsible for dismantling all military infrastructure in southern Lebanon and confiscating all unauthorized weapons.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun ordered the army to protect against any “violations” that may threaten Lebanon’s stability. The Lebanese military stated that they discovered and dismantled three “primitive rocket launchers” in the south.

Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel demanded that the Lebanese government take responsibility for “everything that happens on its territory.” Israel will not allow any harm to its citizens or sovereignty and will do everything necessary to ensure the safety of its citizens and northern communities.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam issued a statement requesting that the Lebanese military take all necessary measures in the south. He stated that Lebanon does not wish to return to war.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expressed being “shocked” by the violence on the border.

“Any further escalation of this volatile situation could have serious consequences for the region,” UNIFIL said.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched unprecedented attacks on Israel from Gaza, igniting the conflict with Hezbollah firing rockets, drones, and missiles at Israel to support its ally Hamas. In September of last year, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated into a full-scale war, with Israel conducting extensive airstrikes and eliminating most of Hezbollah’s senior leaders. The ceasefire agreement reached at the end of November last year ended Israel’s intense bombing and ground military operations in Lebanon, as well as Hezbollah’s daily rocket attacks on Israel.

However, both sides have accused each other of not fully implementing the ceasefire agreement. Israel claims that Hezbollah still maintains military infrastructure in southern Lebanon. Lebanon and Hezbollah, on the other hand, state that Israel continues to conduct airstrikes and station troops at five locations near the border in an attempt to occupy Lebanese territory.