Israel announced on Monday, December 2, 2024, that it had carried out strikes on dozens of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, following through on a pledge to retaliate after the militant group claimed responsibility for an attack – the first since a tenuous ceasefire was brokered last week.
In a statement released Monday, the Israeli military said it "struck Hezbollah terrorists, dozens of launchers, and terrorist infrastructure throughout Lebanon". "Israel demands that the relevant parties in Lebanon fulfill their responsibilities and prevent Hezbollah's hostile activity," it added.
Earlier, Hezbollah said it had launched an attack targeting an Israeli position in "the occupied hills of Kfar Shouba", in a disputed part of the border area between Israel and Lebanon.
Israel's military said Hezbollah had launched two projectiles towards one of its posts in the area of Har Dov, Israel's term for the disputed Shebaa Farms. After that attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of a "serious violation" and vowed to "respond forcefully". "We are determined to uphold the ceasefire and respond to any violation by Hezbollah, no matter how minor or serious," he said. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz also vowed a "harsh response".
Shortly afterward, the Israeli military said it was "striking terror targets in Lebanon." Lebanon's official National News Agency reported strikes on areas of south Lebanon, where Hezbollah has long held sway, that are located around 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the border with Israel.
Lebanon's health ministry said at least nine people had been killed in the Israeli strikes, in what he called the deadliest attacks since a fragile Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire took effect last week.
"The Israeli enemy strike on the village of Haris killed five people and injured two, in an initial toll," the ministry said in a statement, adding that another such attack on Tallousa "killed four people and injured one person".
Earlier on Monday, Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli strike killed one person in the country's south, while the Lebanese army said an Israeli drone wounded a soldier in the east.
Israel's military said it was "aware of reports regarding a soldier from the Lebanese military who was injured in one of the strikes and the incident is under investigation." The army said it was responding to "several acts by Hezbollah in Lebanon that posed a threat to Israeli civilians in violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon."