The Israeli army conducted a series of strikes against multiple targets associated with the Shiite Hezbollah movement in retaliation for rocket and artillery fire emanating from Lebanon on March 3, according to the Israel Defense Forces press service.
On March 3, Lebanon-based forces launched a number of attacks on northern Israeli communities including Metula, Ghajar, and Malkia. In response, IDF units targeted Hezbollah military headquarters and other militant sites in the Aita al-Shaab region, as reported by an Israeli press release.
The press service added that another assault targeted a Hezbollah military facility in the Kfarkela area.
The broader regional crisis has deepened since Hamas militants breached Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip on October 7, with more than two hundred hostages reportedly taken. In the same period, Hamas declared the start of its Operation Al Aqsa Flood and, in reaction, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a state of war.
In a show of backing, Hezbollah publicly expressed support for Hamas. Rocket and mortar fire escalated from both sides on the Israeli and Lebanese fronts. By the afternoon of October 19, the IDF announced renewed fire from Lebanese soil toward Israel’s border regions, with anti-tank missiles reportedly striking Kibbutz Manara, according to military statements.
Analysts note that the form and trajectory of Hezbollah’s involvement could influence regional dynamics, including the potential for broader civilian impact and shifts in border security measures. Observers from Bloomberg and other outlets have highlighted that any sustained regional conflict could strain Israel’s defenses and complicate regional stability, especially if Hezbollah’s capability to degrade or bypass air defense systems becomes a factor in future engagements.
Meanwhile, the international community has warned that prolonged hostilities risk significant humanitarian consequences for civilians on all sides. Former UN officials have repeatedly cautioned that a broader conflagration could transform frontline areas into humanitarian crises, underscoring the need for urgent diplomacy and quiet disengagement channels to prevent further deterioration of the situation.