Report: Hamas-Affiliated Group Fired Rockets From Lebanon, Disguising Them As From Hezbollah

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Walla news site reports that the group behind the launching of six rockets toward Israel on Saturday is a Palestinian faction affiliated with Hamas. The group reportedly left a Hezbollah flag and a photo of the late Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah near the launchers to create the impression that Hezbollah was responsible, aiming to mislead the Lebanese army and the IDF.

Hezbollah denied involvement in the rocket launching, which was the first such violation of Israeli airspace from the north since the Nov. 27th ceasefire with the terrorist organization.

IDF sources confirmed to Walla that from the start of the ceasefire agreement until this past weekend, Israeli forces — both ground and air — have killed over 100 terrorists in Lebanese territory after they violated the agreement or posed a threat to IDF forces along the border and buffer zones.

Following the policy set by the political leadership, enforcement extends not only to the first line of Lebanese villages but also to the second line and beyond, including area sweeps and weapon seizures. According to military sources, Lebanese civilians from villages near the border have yet to return home due to the destruction of their houses and infrastructure.

The IDF is coordinating with Lebanese enforcement mechanisms, sharing information about Hezbollah’s violations. One example is in the village of Kila, located right opposite Metula, where dozens of Lebanese civilians have returned. The Lebanese army is carrying out arrests, searches, and weapons seizures. However, the IDF clarifies that in areas where there are threats or violations near the border, aggressive fire is used to prevent attacks.

According to military sources, the IDF continues to collect Hezbollah weaponry from remote areas in line with the ceasefire agreement, which states: “Only one armed organization should exist in Lebanon — the Lebanese Army.” The IDF reports that it has observed the Lebanese army enforcing the agreement, discovering weapons caches, arresting suspected operatives, and entering areas that were previously considered “private zones” before the war.

The IDF acknowledges that they would prefer the Lebanese army to act faster and more broadly, though they note that the trend is positive. Still, northern command officers emphasize that IDF enforcement does not rely on the Lebanese side.

Over the past week, battalions from the Carmeli Brigade began operating in the Lebanese border area. Reserve soldier turnout exceeded 80%, despite the heavy strain they endured in 2023-2024. The IDF also confirmed that training and preparations for routine operations continue. In the event of a security escalation, the military is ready to deliver what they described as “small punches” and “big punches.”

The IDF notes that Hezbollah is making significant efforts to recover but is struggling. It no longer has Syria’s backing, its ties with Iran are weaker than before, and its stockpile of weapons and ammunition has significantly diminished.