Hezbollah fires rockets at Israel in response to air strikes

Hezbollah said it fired rockets into Israel on Friday from southern Lebanon after Israeli warplanes targeted areas allied to the militant group in response to previous rocket attacks. 

The Iran-backed group said it fired dozens of rockets at open ground in the occupied Shebaa farm area near the Golan Heights. 

Siren warnings of incoming rocket fire were signalled in southern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights, the Israeli military said. 

"Our understanding is that Hezbollah deliberately aimed at open areas in order not to escalate the situation," Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Amnon Shefler told reporters.

A Lebanese security official also confirmed to the Daily Star in Lebanon that rockets had been fired from southern Israel. 

Footage posted by the Israeli army showed ten rockets being intercepted by the Iron Dome system. No casualties or injuries were immediately reported.

"In response to the 10+ rockets just fired at Israel from Lebanon, we are currently striking the rocket launch sites in Lebanon," the Israeli army said in a statement.

A source close to Hezbollah told L'Orient Today said its fighters were confronted in the Hasbaya village of Shwaya after firing rockets across the border. 

Sources close to Hezbollah however confirmed to Middle East Eye that it's fighters were apprehended in the Shwaya area by members of the local druze community. 

The United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) condemned the latest flare-up as a "very serious situation" and "urged all parties to cease fire."

Israel on Thursday sent warplanes into south Lebanon to target rocket launching sites in its first air strikes on its neighbour in seven years. 

Hezbollah said the Israeli air strikes struck open areas in southern Lebanon and had no impact on the group's ability to fire rockets into Israel. 

A Lebanese security source told Reuters the rockets were launched from the area of al-Arqoub, near the Lebanese town of Shebaa.