Early Sunday morning two Katyusha rockets originating from Lebanon landed just west of Kiryat Shmona in the Northern Galilee region. This is the first time in four months rockets originating from Lebanon have been launched towards Israel. The IDF confirmed the launch site of the rockets and responded with heavy artillery fire. Thankfully, no injuries or damage was reported as a result of the rockets. UNIFIL, a UN peacekeeping force stationed in Southern Lebanon, called for restraint from both the IDF and the Lebanese army in the aftermath of the attack. In total, five rockets were launched towards Israel. Media in Lebanon claim that more rocket launches were attempted but failed to reach Israeli territory. The IDF is canvassing the area, looking for the fallen rockets. Nissim Malka, mayor of Kiryat Shmona, told Israel’s Channel 2 news “We woke up to the sounds of rockets this morning. At the moment residents are going to work as normal. We will notify them of changes if necessary.” No sirens were sounded upon the incoming of the rockets. Only after explosions were heard did the IDF investigate and confirm the successful hit of the two rockets. At the start of this weeks cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated: “Today, the IDF responded quickly and forcefully to the rocket fire from Lebanon.  This is our policy regarding Lebanon just as it is with the Gaza Strip. We will not allow a drizzle and we will respond strongly, and if need be, will carry out preventive action.” Netanyahu went on to say that he holds the Lebanese government responsible for the rocket attacks, saying “What is happening in Lebanon is that Hezbollah is stationing thousands of missiles and rockets in apartments, in the heart of the civilian population, and is thus perpetrating two war crimes simultaneously. It is organizing the firing at civilians, just as it did today, and it is hiding behind civilians as human shields. This is a double war crime that that is being perpetrated under the aegis of the Lebanese government and army, which are not lifting a finger to prevent this arming and these crimes. We hold the Lebanese government responsible for this development.”

Lebanon is legally governed Hezbollah, a hybrid terrorist organization that openly calls for the destruction of Israel. In early December, senior Hezbollah operative Hassan al-Laqqis was assassinated in Beirut. Hezbollah and Iran blame Israel for the assassination. Israel denies these claims. Hassan Nasrallah, secretary general of Hezbollah, has vowed revenge against Israel for the death of al-Laqqis. In a ceremony honoring the death of al-Laqqis, Nasrallah stated “If the Israelis think…that Hezbollah is busy and that Israel will not pay the price, I say to them today, ‘You are wrong’.”

Since the Second Lebanon War in 2006, the border between Israel and Lebanon has been very quiet. However, tensions have begun to rise. Several weeks ago, in an isolated incident, a rouge Lebanese soldier killed an Israeli soldier via sniper fire across the border. Since then, Israel has been on high alert. Today’s attack may signal a new wave of violence from Israel’s northern neighbors.