The IAF shoots down Houthi missiles fired from Lebanon

On Friday afternoon, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) shot down a missile launched by Houthi terrorists in Yemen before it could enter Israeli airspace. The military said this was the fourth attack of this kind that week.

Early Saturday morning, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) intercepted three rockets fired by terrorists in Lebanon targeting Metula, a town in Galilee. Three other rockets didn’t make it across the border into Israel. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Home Front Command didn’t change its instructions for civilians.

The IDF fired artillery at the launch site and later hit dozens of Hezbollah targets in Southern Lebanon. The Lebanese terrorist group denied being behind the rocket attack. After the incident, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir reviewed the situation.

This was the first rocket attack from Lebanon since a ceasefire on November 27 ended over a year of fighting with Hezbollah. That conflict started when Hezbollah joined Hamas against Israel the day after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.

“The rocket fire launched this morning toward the Galilee constitutes a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon and is a direct threat to the citizens of the State of Israel. The State of Lebanon bears responsibility for upholding the agreement,” the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit stated.

Metula’s mayor, David Azoulai, said that of the eight percent of residents who returned after the November ceasefire, some left again after this rocket attack.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said on Saturday, “Government of Lebanon is the party responsible for everything taking place within its territory. Israel will not allow any harm to its citizens and its sovereignty—and will do everything in its power to ensure the safety of the citizens of Israel and the communities of the North.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz added, “We will not allow a reality of fire from Lebanon on Galilee communities. We have promised security and that is exactly what will happen.” He also warned, “The fate of Metula is the same as Beirut,” holding the Lebanese government accountable for attacks from its land.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese Armed Forces posted on X that they found and dismantled three basic rocket launchers north of the Litani River, between Kfar Tebnit and Arnoun, southeast of Nabatieh. They said they’ll keep working to control the situation in southern Lebanon.

Since the ceasefire officially ended on February 18, the IDF has occasionally targeted Hezbollah in Lebanon. On Thursday, they hit Hezbollah rocket launchers in Southern Lebanon and underground sites in the Beqaa Valley. “The IDF will continue to operate to remove any threat to the State of Israel and prevent any attempt by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to rebuild its forces,” the military said.

On Sunday, the IDF attacked a Hezbollah elite Radwan Force command center in Southern Lebanon. Earlier that day, they confirmed gunfire from Lebanon likely hit a parked car near the Avivim border moshav, with no injuries reported.

Last week, Defense Minister Katz said Israeli troops will stay at five key outposts in Southern Lebanon “indefinitely.” These are near Labbouneh (opposite Shlomi), Jabal Blat (opposite Zar’it), hills opposite Avivim, Malkia, Margaliot, and Metula.

On March 11, Israel and Lebanon began talks to settle border disputes, meeting in Naqoura with U.S., French, and Lebanese representatives. They set up three working groups to focus on the five Israeli-controlled points in Southern Lebanon, the U.N.’s Blue Line border and its 13 disputes, and Lebanese detainees held by Israel.

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