Lebanese PM Condemns Rocket Attacks from Hezbollah: A Threat to National Security
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Beirut, March 2 (NationPress) - Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated on Monday that those firing rockets from southern Lebanon are jeopardizing the security and wellbeing of the populace, thereby giving Israel justifications to persist in its military actions.
This statement followed a series of rocket assaults launched by the militant group Hezbollah against Israel, which they termed a response to the assassination of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Notably, this marks the first offensive by Hezbollah since the ceasefire that was established in November 2024.
In a message posted on X, Salam alluded to Hezbollah without explicitly naming them, asserting, "Regardless of the group responsible, the act of launching rockets from southern Lebanon is a reckless and dubious act that threatens Lebanon's security and safety, providing Israel with grounds to continue its attacks."
He added, "We will not permit the nation to be entangled in new conflicts, and we will implement all necessary measures to apprehend the offenders and safeguard the Lebanese people."
Following these rocket launches, Israel executed airstrikes targeting Hezbollah-dominated regions in Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that they had commenced strikes on militant positions throughout Lebanon and held Hezbollah accountable for the attacks.
According to military reports, one rocket was intercepted by air defenses, while the remaining rockets landed in uninhabited regions. The launches activated air raid sirens in northern Israel.
Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service reported no immediate casualties from the strikes, although several individuals suffered minor injuries while seeking refuge in shelters.
Rocket fire from Lebanon has been infrequent since the establishment of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in November 2024. Israel has continued to conduct regular airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, claiming these actions are aimed at neutralizing potential threats.
The recent barrage of rockets came after Hezbollah delivered a formal eulogy on Sunday, during which the group's leader, Naim Qassem, characterized the Israeli assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as "the peak of criminality."