Netanyahu orders the bombing of Lebanon in response to an attack on Israel

BeirutThe border between Israel and Lebanon has once again been the scene of a serious upsurge in violence. For the first time in three months, rockets were fired from Lebanese territory toward northern Israel, hitting a residential area. Israel's response was swift. After intercepting the rockets heading toward the town of Metula, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the armed forces to respond decisively. The government in Tel Aviv has warned that the future of Metula is no different from that of Beirut, suggesting a direct threat to the Lebanese capital. Meanwhile, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has announced that the army will assess the next steps in the military escalation.

Israeli artillery has carried out 18 scattered airstrikes in southern Lebanon, with more than 25 missiles targeting several towns. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported the deaths of two people, including a girl, and the injuries of eight others, including two children. The shelling was compounded by actions by Israeli soldiers who remain deployed at five points along the border. They fired machine guns and artillery at towns such as Houla and Markaba, as well as Kafr Kila in the Marjayoun district.

Amid the escalating violence, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called for calm and condemned the Israeli attacks, which he described as attempts to drag Lebanon into a new conflict. Aoun noted that these ceasefire violations since February 18 are undermining national recovery efforts. Along the same lines, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called for calm on the border and requested the cooperation of the Ministry of Defense and the UN to contain the situation. He also called for pressure on Israel to withdraw from the occupied Lebanese territories, recalling its violations of Resolution 1701.

Beyond words, the Lebanese army claims to have discovered "three improvised rocket launchers" north of the Litani River that were dismantled in an effort to control the situation. Authorities assure that they are taking measures to contain the situation and prevent further escalation. Despite an apparent relative calm in southern Lebanon, security sources mentioned that Israel has not completed its response to the rocket fire.

Hezbollah denies involvement.

In this context, Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the latest rocket fire and called the Israeli accusations a pretext to continue its aggression against Lebanon. The Shiite group reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire and expressed support for the Lebanese government in the face of what it described as "a dangerous Zionist escalation."

The border between Israel and Lebanon is once again the scene of crossfire, threats, and retaliation. With the truce weakening, the region faces the risk of a new escalation that could have unforeseeable consequences for both countries and for the damaged stability of the Middle East.