Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon and Israeli forces exchanged cross-border attacks early Sunday, following an Israeli strike that killed three Lebanese rescuers. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported the deaths of the emergency responders on Saturday after an Israeli attack on the village of Froun in southern Lebanon.
In response, Hezbollah said it launched a barrage of Falaq rockets at the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona early Sunday, citing retaliation for the attack on the rescuers. The Israeli military responded with airstrikes targeting Hezbollah military structures in southern and eastern Lebanon. Additionally, Hezbollah reported firing rockets at the Israeli community of Shamir, near Kiryat Shmona.
The Lebanese Civil Defence confirmed that the rescuers were killed while putting out fires caused by earlier Israeli strikes. Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the attack as a “blatant violation of international laws and human values.”
The exchange of fire is part of a broader escalation in cross-border violence between Hezbollah and Israel, which began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, sparking the ongoing war in Gaza. Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, has been involved in near-daily clashes with Israeli forces since then.
Israel continues to target Hezbollah infrastructure, while Hezbollah claims its attacks are aimed at Israeli military positions.
The situation remains tense, with international concerns rising over the potential for further escalation.
