Photo: Depositphotos
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) artillery fired on targets in the village of Yahmar al-Shakif in southern Lebanon on Friday. This was reported by Lebanese sources. The strike was a response to a rocket attack from Lebanese territory on the Israeli border town of Metula, which took place on the morning of 22 March.
Earlier, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that Israel would not leave this incident unanswered:
“We will not allow shelling of the Galilee. We promised security to the settlements, and that is exactly what will happen. The law of Metula is the same as the law of Beirut. The Lebanese government is responsible for any shelling from its territory.”
As a reminder, at 7:32 a.m., an air raid alarm sounded in the city of Metula, after which residents heard explosions. The IDF reported that at least three rockets were fired from Lebanon and intercepted by air defence systems. There were no casualties.
The Israeli artillery strikes were the first return fire after several months of lull on the northern front. The incident threatens the informal ceasefire between Israel and armed groups affiliated with Hezbollah.
The IDF is on high alert, and the situation on the border with Lebanon is sharply deteriorating.
