Hezbollah said its mortar fire – the first operation it has announced since the ceasefire took effect last Wednesday – was a “warning” in response to repeated violations by Israel.
It launched rockets after Israel fired artillery and launched at least four airstrikes, killing two people, Lebanese media reported: a man on a motorcycle and a member of the Lebanese security forces.
Hezbollah said in a statement that it was a defensive move “given that appeals to the relevant authorities to stop these (Israeli) violations have proved futile”, an apparent reference to the international committee appointed to monitor the ceasefire.
“This is confirmation that the party remains strong and ready for any eventuality,” says Qassem Kassir, a Lebanese political writer who specializes in Islamist movements.
“The key is to step up the work of the international committee, ensure the deployment of the Lebanese army, the withdrawal (of Israeli forces) from the occupied Lebanese territories and an end to violations by Israel.”
Paula Yacoubyan, an independent member of Lebanon’s parliament, said Hezbollah likely fired the rockets to send a message.
“I think you can just tell Israel, ‘we’re still here and we can still shoot,’ so that Israel stops (its attacks),” she told the BBC. “Hezbollah is getting embarrassed to receive all these violations and not even answer anything.”
