Israel’s military cautioned that they would “react forcefully” following the interception of three rockets launched from Lebanon. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Lebanon has cautioned against being drawn into another conflict. For more information, see INSPIRATIONS DIGITAL.
The precarious truce between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is at risk following reports from the Israeli military that they have successfully intercepted three rockets launched from Lebanon.
When Israel retaliated with attacks in southern Lebanon, the country’s Prime Minister cautioned against getting drawn into “a new conflict.”
Here is a roundup of the latest news on Israel, Lebanon, Gaza and wider tensions in the Middle Easton Saturday, 22.03.2025
UN peacekeepers 'alarmed'
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) released a statement subsequent to an Israeli military attack on sites within Lebanon, which followed a barrage of rockets being launched into northern Israel.
UNIFIL continues to be concerned about the potential for increased hostility" following the launch of projectiles from Lebanon towards Israel, which prompted "instant counteraction from the IDF.
On Saturday evening, the Israeli army stated that they had carried out attacks targeting “multiple Hezbollah missile launch sites and a command center used for terrorist operations” located in south Lebanon.
According to Lebanese media reports, one individual died and three were wounded in an Israeli air strike on a southern Lebanese village.
Netanyahu directs attacks on numerous 'terrorist targets' in Lebanon
The Israeli army stated on Saturday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed them to take strong action against numerous terrorist sites in Lebanon as retaliation for rockets being launched into Israel from Lebanon.
On Saturday morning, the IDF reported that they had intercepted rockets aimed at the northern Israeli border town of Metula.
Israel stated that it was still identifying the source of the rocket attacks; however, defense officials indicated that they blame the Lebanese government for failing to stop such actions originating from within its borders. Hezbollah has not yet responded with any statement.
The Israeli media stated that the military employed artillery fire to strike the location from where the rockets had been launched.
Security officials in Lebanon informed Germany’s DPA news agency that Israeli artillery strikes hit the village of Yohmor and the al-Hamames hills, which are located opposite Metula across the frontier.
Israeli combat aircraft were spotted flying above the southern areas of Lebanon, according to reports.
Israel launches attacks in Southern Lebanon as reported
The Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir stated on Saturday that the IDF will respond harshly to the daybreak assault following reports of three rockets launched from Lebanon being intercepted in Northern Israel.
The Israeli army stated that they were still probing who might have launched the rockets.
The official Lebanese news agency stated that Israel carried out aerial and artillery attacks in parts of southern Lebanon on Saturday. There have been no reports of casualties so far.
Before a November ceasefire , Israel struck multiple targets in Beirut and deployed ground forces in southern Lebanon as part of a two-month operation against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Following the Hamas terrorist assaults on October 7, 2023, an Iranian-supported armed organization commenced rocket and artillery strikes against Israel one day later.
Following this, numerous inhabitants from northern Israeli communities were forced to relocate. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry’s report in November 2024, over 3,000 individuals in Lebanon lost their lives during the 13 months of fighting.
Lebanese Prime Minister cautions about 'impending conflict'
On Saturday, Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, cautioned that additional Israeli military actions in southern Lebanon could lead to “a new war dragging the nation into turmoil, bringing suffering to both Lebanon and its citizens,” as stated in an official release.
Salam’s comment was made following Israel’s vow of a “stern reaction” to rockets launched into Israel from Lebanon earlier that day. Local reports indicated that soon afterward, Israeli strikes hit areas in south Lebanon.
Early Saturday morning, Israel’s military reported intercepting three rockets originating from Lebanon. Residents in the Israeli border town of Metula heard air raid sirens blare, marking the first such alert triggered by rocket fire from Lebanon since November 2024.
On Saturday, an episode of cross-border shelling occurred for the first time along the Israel-Lebanon frontier since Israel restarted military activities against Hamas in Gaza, essentially ending the truce in that region.
Israel claims it has intercepted rockets launched from Lebanon.
The Israeli army reported intercepting three rockets launched into northern Israel from a site within Lebanon early Saturday morning. This marks the first such incident since the cease-fire with the Lebanese militia group Hezbollah came into effect in November.
Israel has not yet clarified which party launched the rockets. Nevertheless, Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the Lebanese government holds accountability for maintaining the truce.
"We won’t tolerate missile attacks originating from Lebanon targeting our Galilee regions. We assured safety to the Galilee towns, and this commitment remains steadfast. What applies to Metula holds true for Beirut as well,” stated Katz, referencing the northern Israeli town close to where the missiles were detected.
The truce arranged by the United States between Israel and Hezbollah states that the Lebanese government must dismantle military equipment and structures in southern Lebanon.
This involves deploying forces in the area and making sure Hezbollah doesn’t acquire weaponry. As a response, Israeli soldiers would pull out from the zone. Nonetheless, each side has charged the other with not completely abiding by the truce.
Welcome to our coverage
Today, we're examining escalating tensions jeopardizing an unstable truce between Israel and Lebanon following cross-border rocket attacks.
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