Israel attacks Lebanon following Hezbollah's hit on Shebaa Farms

After Hezbollah attacked three Israeli military positions in the disputed Shebaa Farms on Sunday, Israel opened fire with a barrage of artillery into southern Lebanon.

There were no reports of casualties immediately.

At least 250 Israelis were killed on Saturday in the deadliest attack by Palestinian gunmen on Israeli towns in years, while 230 more Gazans were killed in Israel's retaliatory bombardment, Reuters reported.

A powerful armed group known as Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran, claimed responsibility for firing guided rockets and artillery at three sites in the Shebaa Farms "in solidarity" with the Palestinian people.

The Israeli military reported on Sunday that it unleashed artillery into a region of Lebanon when mortar fire was launched across the border. “IDF (Israel Defense Forces) artillery is currently striking the area in Lebanon from where a shooting was carried out,” it said.

According to the Israeli military, a Hezbollah post was hit by one of its drones in the Shebaa neighbourhood of Har Dov.

“At this point, there is no further threat in Har Dov or the northern arena,” IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in televised remarks, also mentioning that the military was still on high alert.

The Shebaa Farms, a 15 square mile (39 square km) area of land, have been under Israeli control since 1967. The Shebaa Farms are said to be Lebanese by both Syria and Lebanon.

UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, reported that it "detected multiple rockets fired from southeast Lebanon towards Israeli-occupied territory," as well as Israel's artillery fire into Lebanon.

“We are in contact with authorities on both sides of the Blue Line, at all levels, to contain the situation and avoid a more serious escalation,” spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said.

The Blue Line, which separates Lebanon and Israel, delineates the area from which Israeli forces withdrew in south Lebanon in 2000.

Following the events in Israel and Gaza, UNIFIL announced on Saturday that it had increased its presence in southern Lebanon, including its efforts to thwart missile launches.

Joanna Wronecka, the UN's special coordinator for Lebanon, posted on platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that the exchange of gunfire had her "deeply concerned" and pleaded with all sides to "shield Lebanon and its people from further conflagration."

Hezbollah, which effectively controls southern Lebanon, said on Saturday it was in “direct contact” with leaders of Palestinian “resistance” groups and that it saw Palestinian attacks on Israel as a “decisive response to Israel’s continued occupation and a message to those seeking normalization with Israel."