Escalating Tensions: IDF Strikes Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon Amid Renewed Rocket Fire
The Israeli army has launched a second round of attacks in southern Lebanon this week, responding to rocket launches from the region toward northern Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed they were targeting Hezbollah's militant objectives after at least two projectiles were fired early Friday morning. According to the IDF, one rocket was intercepted while the other reportedly fell back into Lebanese territory.
Reports from Al Manar, a television channel associated with Hezbollah, have detailed bombings across several southern regions of Lebanon, resulting in an unspecified number of injuries, including reported casualties near Kfar Tebnit's Municipal Hall according to the Lebanese National News Agency (ANN).
In light of escalating hostilities, the IDF has urged residents of buildings in southern Beirut — proximity to Hezbollah facilities — to evacuate. IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted a message on X, including a map highlighting these buildings' locations.
Israel's recent strikes in southern Lebanon are part of a pattern seen multiple times over the past week, although it has notably refrained from targeting regions in the capital recognized as Hezbollah strongholds, which faced an extensive offensive from the IDF between October and November 2024.
In a grim week for the region, five fatalities were reported on Thursday alone due to Israeli assaults in southern Lebanon. Local authorities indicated that two of the deceased were caught in an Israeli raid in Barashit, Nabatiyeh, while three others were killed in Yahmar al Shaqif.
As of Friday, it appears that there have been no reported deaths from the latest round of strikes in Lebanon. The renewed rocket fire towards northern Israel marks a significant uptick in hostilities, as this week saw two rocket launches from Lebanon; the previous week had seen three intercepted rockets, marking a resurgence of violence that had diminished since a ceasefire was brokered on November 27. This ceasefire had halted over a year of back-and-forth cross-attacks that displaced more than 60,000 Israelis, with nearly 30,000 evacuees still residing away from their homes and over a million Lebanese affected.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized the government's commitment to maintaining security for residents in Galilee and vowed a firm response to any threats, reiterating sentiments he expressed during last Saturday’s rocket attack from Lebanon. The statement reflects the tense security landscape in the region, where Israel's air and ground offensive against Gaza has been ongoing, alongside missile launches attributed to Houthi rebels in Yemen and intermittent rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave.
Thus far, none of these hostilities have resulted in casualties on Israeli soil, marking a precarious threshold as the region grapples with continuous threats and simmering tensions.
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