Lebanese Armed Forces in Beirut, Lebanon, on March 1 2024. Photo by Elisa Gestri/Sipa via Reuters.
The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are continuing investigations into who was responsible for the rocket launches against Israel last Saturday, which drew a harsh Israeli response that resulted in nine people being killed in several airstrikes over the following days.
Six rockets were launched from southern Lebanon – three of which were intercepted over the Israeli city of Metula and three others that fell short and landed in Lebanese territory.
Hezbollah officially denied responsibility for the strikes and stressed that it remained committed to the ceasefire terms.
According to a Lebanese security source quoted by the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, the Lebanese army has found the launch site and is analyzing samples collected from the area.
Hezbollah remains the dominant force in southern Lebanon. The launch site is within the geographical responsibility of the Nasser Unit. In any case, Hezbollah should be regarded as responsible, even if it did not “pull the trigger” directly or was unaware of the intention to… pic.twitter.com/EOxrayOlrK
— Israel-Alma (@Israel_Alma_org) March 23, 2025
A senior Lebanese official declined to specify who was responsible for the rocket fire but noted that Palestinian groups had launched rockets toward Israel from the same area throughout the war. He added that more than one non-Lebanese entity could potentially be blamed for the rocket launches.
The LAF will issue a report to the political leadership when it is ready, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.
The Lebanese newspaper al-Diyar cited another political source who said that the launchers used in the attack were “improvised launchers that contradict Hezbollah’s approach and capabilities. All facts and evidence confirm that Hezbollah had no connection to the rocket launches.”
However, the source also claimed that the terror group has “adhered to the ceasefire agreement,” which according to Israeli statements, is untrue.
“They [Hezbollah] dare to declare their actions without hesitation, and the capabilities they possess do not align with the methods used yesterday and earlier, which have been proven to be carried out by groups unaffiliated with Hezbollah,” the source added, also noting that Hezbollah would typically not comment on similar incidents but this time, issued a firm denial.
Another Lebanese newspaper, Nidaa al-Watan, said that initial investigations showed that the improvised launchers suggested the launch was conducted by “a Lebanese or Palestinian faction or even a subversive entity aiming to destabilize the situation.”
According to the report, the political echelon instructed the LAF “to adopt a firmer stance in southern Lebanon and prevent any action that could drag the country into a new round of war.”
“In any case, Hezbollah should be regarded as responsible, even if it did not ‘pull the trigger’ directly or was unaware of the intention to carry out the rocket launch,” wrote Tal Beeri, an expert for Lebanon at the Alma Research Center.
“In the event of terrorist activity against Israeli territory, regardless of who is behind it, Israel’s response should always be directed at Hezbollah, as indeed occurred,” he added.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, meanwhile, conducted a series of exchanges with the United States and, despite threats by Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz, succeeded in sparing the capital Beirut from the furious Israeli airstrikes.
However, Nidaa al-Watan added that Israel informed the U.S. that it “will continue to strike any Hezbollah movement in any area while avoiding harm to civilians and institutions.”
מצורף תיעוד מתקיפות צה”ל בלבנון אתמול>> pic.twitter.com/XIbwni51ku
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 23, 2025
Since Saturday’s rocket attack, the IDF conducted several waves of airstrikes, which according to Lebanese sources, killed at least nine people.
Among them was a high-ranking Hezbollah operative named Radwan Salim Awada, who was eliminated near the city of Tyre, and another terrorist named Hassan Nehmeh Zein, who was killed in Ayta al-Shaab, near the border.
The LAF, in a statement, denounced the Israeli strikes, “which have caused deaths and injuries and significant property damage,” as well as “the encroachment of Israeli bulldozers into Lebanese territory this morning to clear entire areas in Wadi Qatmoun, near Rmeish (Bint Jbeil), not to mention a deployment of enemy soldiers in this area, blatantly violating United Nations Resolution 1701.”
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to find a permanent solution for the border issues between Lebanon and Israel are set to continue. Asharq Al-Awsat reported that the U.S. deputy envoy to the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, is expected to arrive in the region to advance negotiations about the release of Lebanese prisoners by Israel, the withdrawal of IDF troops from Lebanese territory, and the settlement of border disputes.
However, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who represented Hezbollah in the ceasefire negotiations, told the newspaper on Sunday, “Israel intends to draw us into political negotiations to normalize relations between the two countries, but we are not at all willing to do so.”
Berri stated: “Hezbollah respects this agreement, has not taken any action for six months despite Israeli violations and supports the government’s action,” while blaming Israel for not fully withdrawing from Lebanon.
