Israeli artillery fire and airstrikes hit southern Lebanon on Saturday after Israel claimed to have intercepted several rockets fired from across the border, threatening a fragile truce between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister cautioned that the nation risked being drawn into a "new war" amid rising tensions.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified following the Gaza invasion, with sporadic cross-border violence escalating into what many now describe as the deadliest Israeli offensive against the group. The offensive reportedly wiped out a significant portion of Hezbollah’s leadership alongside several hundred fighters.
Earlier, the Israeli military announced that it had intercepted three rockets launched from a Lebanese district approximately six kilometres (four miles) north of the border. This marked the first cross-border attack since a US-brokered ceasefire in November, which had brought an end to the previous round of hostilities.
On Saturday, Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, voiced concerns over the potential resumption of military operations in the south of the country.
"All necessary security and military measures must be taken to demonstrate that Lebanon makes decisions on matters of war and peace," Salam stated following Israel's strikes on southern Lebanese towns in retaliation for the rocket launches.
Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, warned that the military would respond decisively after the interception of the rockets fired into northern Israel.
"We cannot permit fire from Lebanon upon the communities of Galilee," Katz said in a statement. "The Lebanese government bears responsibility for attacks originating from its territory. I have instructed the military to respond accordingly."
Meanwhile, Thailand expressed its disappointment at the resumption of hostilities in Gaza, urging the release of all hostages, including a Thai national.
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