Provocations on Lebanese border continue, IDF responds by striking Hezbollah targets

The tensions on the border between Israel and Lebanon continued to simmer throughout the weekend, as Israel Defense Forces repeatedly struck Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon in response to infiltration attempts and attacks on Israeli military positions.

On Saturday afternoon, the Hezbollah terror group took responsibility for an attack against an IDF position on Mt. Dov, claiming it used mortar grenades and anti-tank missiles in the attack.

The IDF confirmed that 30 grenades were launched but added that not all landed in Israeli territory.

Israeli tanks responded by firing at the source of the mortar launches, and IAF helicopters patrolled the area to prevent further shooting, Israeli media reported.

At the time of the mortar fire, a terror squad intending to fire an anti-tank missile was thwarted by Israeli aircraft as it attempted to cross the border into Israel near Margaliot.

This activity marked the second exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah on Saturday, as the IDF attacked Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon earlier in the morning in response to an attempted drone infiltration. Three drones attempted to infiltrate Israeli territory from Lebanon and were shot down, and an attempt to shoot down an Israeli drone with a missile that the IDF intercepted was thwarted prior to that.

In addition, three terrorists tried to infiltrate Israeli territory shortly afterward but were struck and eliminated by the Israeli Air Force.

Israel aims to keep Hezbollah from joining the week-old war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and has transferred a portion of the 300,000 reserve soldiers to the northern border to bolster its readiness and deterrence.

IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari repeatedly warned Hezbollah that the IDF was alert and ready to act on all fronts.

Hezbollah’s deputy chief, Sheikh Naim Qassem, for his part, stressed on Friday that his group was “fully ready” to join the war against Israel and wouldn’t be moved by calls for it to stay on the sidelines.

“The behind-the-scenes calls with us by great powers, Arab countries, envoys of the United Nations, directly and indirectly telling us not to interfere will have no effect,” Qassem announced at a rally, according to Saudi Arabia-based outlet Al-Arabiya.

“Hezbollah knows its duties perfectly well. We are prepared and ready, fully ready, and we are following developments moment by moment,” Qassem said.