Israel strikes Southern Lebanon in retaliation to rocket attack

Israeli forces carried out artillery and air strikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday after Israel said it intercepted rockets fired from across the border.

The clash threatens a fragile ceasefire that ended a year-long war between Israel and Hezbollah. That conflict was the deadliest spillover of the Gaza war, simmering for months before escalating into a massive Israeli offensive that eliminated Hezbollah’s top commanders, many fighters, and much of its arsenal.

Saturday’s action was the first since Israel effectively ended a separate ceasefire in Gaza with Hamas, an ally of Hezbollah. Both groups are backed by Iran, Israel’s main adversary.

Earlier, the Israeli military said it intercepted three rockets fired from a Lebanese district about 6 km (4 miles) from the border, marking the second such attack since a US-brokered ceasefire in November halted fighting.

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Israel’s Army Radio reported that the military responded with artillery fire. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s state news agency said Israeli artillery hit two towns, with airstrikes targeting three others near the border.

There were no reports of casualties from either side.

Signalling it could further escalate its response, the Israeli military said it would “respond severely to the morning’s attack.”

However, the Israeli military said it was still looking into who was responsible for Saturday’s cross-border launches towards the northern border town of Metula. Hezbollah did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Under the November ceasefire deal, Hezbollah was to have no weapons in southern Lebanon, Israeli troops were to withdraw from the region, and Lebanese army troops were to deploy into the area.