Netanyahu vows 'harsh response' after Hezbollah violates ceasefire striking mortars at Israel

Hezbollah on Monday afternoon fired two mortars at open areas of Mount Dov in the Golan Heights, its first significant ceasefire violation, though the group has tested the IDF's closure of southern Lebanon a number of times.

At the same time, Lebanon, France, and on Monday, reportedly US envoy Amos Hochstein, have accused Israel of various violations of the ceasefire.

Following the launch of the mortars, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz both vowed to respond forcefully to the Hezbollah group in X/Twitter posts. 

 "Hezbollah's fire towards Mount Dov constitutes a severe violation of the ceasefire, and Israel will respond forcefully," Netanyahu wrote. 

"We are determined to continue enforcing the ceasefire and to respond to any violation by Hezbollah — whether minor or severe," he added. 

Katz also wrote that Isarel would initiate a "harsh response."

"We promised to act against any violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah - and that is exactly what we will do," he wrote.

The Hezbollah terror group took responsibility for the launch of the rockets shortly after the incident occurred. 

The IDF has killed a number of Hezbollah fighters and bombed a small number of Hezbollah rocket cell positions but has said that it only did so in instances when the terror group posed a threat to Israeli forces or tried to break through into southern Lebanon.

What are the terms of the ceasefire?

Under the terms of the November 26 ceasefire, the IDF must withdraw from southern Lebanon by the end of January, but there is no specific earlier set date to start the withdrawal,l and the entire deal is subject to compliance by Hezbollah with the ceasefire.

Firing two mortar shells - Hezbollah's weakest weapons - at an open area was not expected to end the deal, but it did highlight the fragility and ongoing tensions even several days into the agreement.