IAF Strikes Hezbollah Launchers In Respond To Mortar Fire, But Israel Remains Committed To Ceasefire

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The  IDF launched a series of airstrikes in Lebanon on Monday evening after Hezbollah launched two mortars at the Mount Dov area on the Hermon for the first time since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect last week.

The IDF announced that fighter jets struck Hezbollah operatives and dozens of rocket launchers and facilities belonging to the terror group across Lebanon, according to a Times of Israel report.

Hezbollah claimed earlier on Monday that it launched the mortars in response to Israel’s “repeated violations” of the ceasefire deal that took effect last week, and said that it should serve as an “initial warning” over IDF strikes on Lebanon during the truce and the “continued violation of Lebanese airspace by hostile Israeli aircraft.”

The incident — the first fire from Lebanon since the start of the truce — came after the US and France had both reportedly warned that Israel was violating parts of the deal, a charge Israel has denied, claiming it is enforcing its right to self-defense.

The IDF said that the Hezbollah projectiles landed in open areas and did not cause any injuries.

Senior Israeli officials were quick to condemn the Hezbollah attack, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing a firm response.

“Hezbollah’s firing at Mount Dov constitutes a serious violation of the ceasefire, and Israel will respond forcefully,” he said in a statement. “We are determined to continue to enforce the ceasefire, and to respond to any violation by Hezbollah — a minor one will be treated like a major one.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz also warned of a “harsh response,” writing on X that Israel “promised to act against any violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah, and that is exactly what we will do.”

In addition to the Hezbollah operatives, rocket launchers, and facilities targeted by fighter jets, the IDF said it struck the launcher used to fire the two mortars at Mount Dov. The site was hit a short while after the attack, according to the army.

“Hezbollah’s launches tonight constitute a violation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon,” the IDF said in a statement.

“The State of Israel demands that the relevant parties in Lebanon fulfill their responsibilities and prevent Hezbollah’s hostile activity from within Lebanese territory. The State of Israel remains obligated to the fulfillment of the conditions of the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon,” the army added.

Lebanon’s health ministry later said at least nine people were killed in Israeli strikes on two southern villages.

“The Israeli enemy strike on the village of Haris killed five people and injured two, in an initial toll,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that another such attack on Tallousa “killed four people and injured one person.”

On the diplomatic front, Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer met with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan at the White House on Monday and reiterated Israel’s desire to uphold the ceasefire, according to an Israeli official and a source with knowledge of the meeting.

Sullivan acknowledged Israel’s right to self-defense under international law when facing direct threats from Lebanon, the source said.

President Joe Biden’s senior adviser to the Middle East Amos Hochstein held discussions with Israeli and Lebanese officials on Monday.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the ceasefire, the source told the Axios news site. Hochstein emphasized that any violations of the agreement should be reported to the US-led ceasefire monitoring mechanism established under the agreement to ensure they are addressed effectively.