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Hezbollah fired 30 rockets toward the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona on the evening of March 5. Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system intercepted 13 of the projectiles, while 17 fell in open areas. One rocket fell in the yard of a house in a community. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) retaliated by targeting the rocket launching site in Lebanon. The IDF also struck an anti-tank missile launch site in another area of Lebanon used to target Kiryat Shmona.
Expert Analysis
“Hezbollah increased its attacks in the first week of March, targeting Israeli agricultural workers and the northern city of Kiryat Shmona. The attack on March 5 involving 30 rockets illustrates that Hezbollah is seeking to prevent Israeli residents from returning to northern Israel. In addition, Hezbollah increased its attacks when U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein visited Lebanon and Israel, indicating it believes it has impunity to attack Israel. Hezbollah must be deterred from further attacks and its terrorists be removed from the border area where they threaten Israel.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow
“Hezbollah is demonstrating that despite international efforts to reach a diplomatic solution to the conflict on the Israel-Lebanon border, it is willing to risk an all-out war with Israel. However, this approach is risky and flawed. Israel’s determination to eliminate Hezbollah from the border is stronger than ever, and the Lebanon-based group should not underestimate the potential for military action. It is in the best interest of Lebanon and Hezbollah to prioritize diplomacy to prevent a worsening crisis.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal
Hezbollah Increases Attacks
Hezbollah has increased its deadly attacks on Israel in the last week. On March 4, rocket fire killed an agricultural worker in northern Israel and injured several others. On March 5, Hezbollah attacks damaged a utility pole and caused a power outage in northern Israel. Israel evacuated border communities in October due to Hezbollah attacks that began on October 8 in support of the Hamas attack the day before. The Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah has launched thousands of rockets, missiles, and drones at Israel in five months of conflict.
The escalation in early March came as Hochstein visited the region and said diplomacy is the “only way” forward. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on March 5 that the continued Hezbollah attacks are bringing Israel to a “critical point” regarding a potential wider conflict with Hezbollah.
