Israel Retaliates for Rocket Fire From Lebanon

Latest Developments

The Israeli military struck terrorist cells in southern Lebanon that had fired rockets at northern Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on April 2 and 3. The “Hezbollah terrorist organization launched rockets at the Har Dov area in northern Israel from a military post in the area of Kfar Hamaam,” the IDF said on April 3. “Within a few minutes, [Israeli Air Force] fighter jets and aircraft struck Hezbollah terror infrastructure and military posts, including the post from which the rockets were launched and the operatives who fired the rockets.” The rocket attacks on April 2 and 3 set off sirens in multiple communities along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon in addition to the northern Israeli city of Nahariya. Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system shot down some of the rockets, the IDF said. There were no reports of injuries in the rocket attacks.

Terrorists targeted Nahariya in a missile attack in February. It is one of the few communities near the northern border from which Israel has not evacuated residents since Hezbollah began attacks against Israel on October 8 in the wake of the Hamas massacre. Hezbollah has launched thousands of rockets and missile attacks since October 8.

Expert Analysis

“Hezbollah and other terrorist groups in Lebanon continue to target Israel with rockets and anti-tank missiles, as well as kamikaze drones. Israel has evacuated up to 80,000 people from northern Israel due to six months of attacks by Hezbollah, but the Iran-backed terrorist group has sought to prevent Israelis from returning to their homes and has threatened escalation. It is essential that Hezbollah be deterred and that terrorist groups in Lebanon be moved away from the border so that their rocket attacks on Israel cease.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow

“Hezbollah is aware of which towns and cities have been evacuated in northern Israel. The attack in Nahariya was undeniably intentional and serves as a clear warning that Hezbollah can target densely populated areas if it so chooses. This tactic underscores the grave threat that Hezbollah poses, as it could inflict substantial civilian casualties and escalate the conflict significantly with just one attack.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

Hezbollah Explosive Injured Members of UN Force

A Hezbollah explosive device caused a March 30 blast in southern Lebanon that injured three United Nations peacekeeping observers and a Lebanese interpreter, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, said on April 3. The observers from Chile, Australia, and Norway had been participating in the UN Truce Supervision Organization, a group that supports the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Lebanese media initially blamed Israel. The UN has also been investigating the incident but has not put out a statement about its findings.

Related Analysis

“IDF: Hezbollah Stores Weapons in Lebanese Civilian Areas,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hezbollah Attack on Northern Israel Kills One, Injures Nine,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hezbollah Fires Rockets at Northern Israeli City of Nahariya,” FDD Flash Brief