Israeli airstrikes hit south Lebanon following rocket interception

Israel launched airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon on Friday after intercepting a rocket fired from Lebanese territory, the Israeli military said.

Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the attack.

Israel vowed a strong response to any threats, further straining the fragile ceasefire between the two sides.

The truce had ended a year-long conflict, which was a spillover from the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza.

A senior Hezbollah official denied the group’s involvement in Friday’s rocket launch.

The incident followed a similar attack on March 22, which Hezbollah also denied responsibility for. The group claimed these attacks appeared to be part of an effort “to create pretexts for the continuation of Israeli military action in Lebanon.”

Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, placed responsibility on Lebanon for the missile fired into the Galilee region.

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“We will ensure the security of the residents of Galilee and will act forcefully against any threat,” he said.

Lebanese media reported that Israeli warplanes were flying over the country on Friday. The Israeli military confirmed that a second rocket launched from southern Lebanon had landed within Lebanese territory.

These ceasefire violations coincided with Israel’s renewed military operations against Hamas in Gaza. A two-month truce had collapsed after both sides failed to reach an agreement on extending it.

Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire on March 22 killed at least eight people in southern Lebanon. Israel said the strikes came in response to rockets fired from across the border.

Hezbollah denied responsibility for the Saturday rocket attacks. The group stated it had “no link” to the launches and remained committed to the ceasefire.

Under a November agreement, Hezbollah was required to remove its weapons from southern Lebanon.

Israeli ground forces were to withdraw, and the Lebanese army was to take control of the area.

Lebanon’s government was also tasked with dismantling military infrastructure in the south and seizing unauthorized weapons.

The ceasefire had halted Israel’s bombardment and ground operations in Lebanon, as well as Hezbollah’s daily rocket fire into Israeli territory.

However, both sides have since accused each other of failing to fully implement the deal.

Israel claims Hezbollah continues to maintain military positions in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon and Hezbollah argue that Israel is violating the agreement by carrying out airstrikes and keeping troops at five strategic hilltops near the border.

(Reuters)

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