Israeli Airstrikes Kill Two, Including Girl, After Rocket Fire From Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes killed two people, including a girl, in Lebanon’s Touline after rocket fire from across the border. Hezbollah denied involvement. The Lebanese PM warned of war risks, while the UN urged restraint. Israel blamed Lebanon and vowed retaliation, escalating tensions amid a renewed offensive in Gaza.

Tensions flared along the Israel-Lebanon border on Saturday as Israeli airstrikes killed two people, including a young girl, in Lebanon’s southern town of Touline. The strikes came in response to rocket fire from across the border, marking the most significant escalation since a ceasefire was reached on November 27.

The Israeli military reported that three rockets were launched from Lebanon into northern Israel, all of which were intercepted. Air raid sirens were triggered in the region for the first time in months. While Hezbollah has a strong presence in southern Lebanon, the group denied any involvement in the attack, accusing Israel of using it as a “pretext” to continue assaults on Lebanese territory.

The Lebanon-based militant group, backed by Iran, stated that it stood with the Lebanese state against the Israeli strikes and warned of the risks of further escalation. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam echoed these concerns, cautioning that the country could be pulled into a new war.

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz held the Lebanese government accountable for any hostilities emanating from its territory, regardless of who launched the rockets. He ordered the military to respond “accordingly,” with armed forces chief Eyal Zamir warning of a severe retaliation.

Strikes also hit the border village of Kfarkila, injuring two people. The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon expressed concern about the rising violence and urged all sides to avoid actions that could destabilize the region further.

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Meanwhile, the Lebanese army dismantled three makeshift rocket launchers north of the Litani River. The clashes coincided with Israel’s renewed offensive in Gaza, with Defence Minister Katz stating Israel would seize more territory if Hamas continued to hold hostages.