IDF shells terror sites in Lebanon in response to rocket fire

Israel Defense Forces artillery on Tuesday struck several terror sites in Lebanon after a rocket was launched towards the Jewish state.

The projectile, fired from Lebanese territory towards the northernmost Israeli city of Metula, landed in an open area, causing no injuries or damage.

Later Tuesday, the Iron Dome defense system intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” that crossed into Israeli territory.

In response, IDF aircraft and tanks struck a series of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus warned on Monday that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terror army was “dragging Lebanon into an unnecessary war.”

He noted that since Oct. 8, a day after Hamas’s mass murder attack on southern Israel, Hezbollah had fired more than 1,000 rockets, missiles, drones and mortar shells towards Israel.

Five Israeli civilians and nine military personnel have been killed by enemy fire in the north since the Hamas massacre. More than a hundred Hezbollah members have been killed by Israeli retaliatory strikes, according to estimates.

“The situation along the northern border along the [U.N.-delineated] Blue Line is not one that we can tolerate, and we are looking for safety for Israeli civilians living behind our internationally established and recognized borders,” said Conricus.

Earlier Monday, the IDF intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory.

In retaliation, Israeli artillery shelled terror targets in Lebanon and IAF fighter jets struck an anti-tank missile squad.

The military confirmed that several rockets were also launched towards the Jewish state.

Also Monday, IAF jets struck a series of Hezbollah terror targets in Lebanon, including a command center and a rocket launch site.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday vowed to restore security to the north so that residents of border communities could return to their homes.

“We will do this either through an agreement, or using force,” said Gallant.

“We don’t want war, but we won’t hold it for too long,” he added.