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Hezbollah Says Israeli Attacks on Lebanon Civilians to Be 'Reciprocated'

Lebanese Hezbollah fighters take part in cross-border raids, part of large-scale military exercise, in Aaramta bordering Israel on May 21, 2023, ahead of the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000. (AFP)
Lebanese Hezbollah fighters take part in cross-border raids, part of large-scale military exercise, in Aaramta bordering Israel on May 21, 2023, ahead of the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000. (AFP)
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Hezbollah Says Israeli Attacks on Lebanon Civilians to Be 'Reciprocated'

Lebanese Hezbollah fighters take part in cross-border raids, part of large-scale military exercise, in Aaramta bordering Israel on May 21, 2023, ahead of the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000. (AFP)
Lebanese Hezbollah fighters take part in cross-border raids, part of large-scale military exercise, in Aaramta bordering Israel on May 21, 2023, ahead of the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000. (AFP)

Lebanon's Hezbollah movement on Monday vowed any Israeli attacks on civilians "will be reciprocated", after an Israeli strike hit a building opposite a funeral procession for one of the group's fighters.

The frontier between Lebanon and Israel has seen regular exchanges of fire, mainly between the Israeli army and Hamas ally Hezbollah, since the conflict in the Gaza Strip began on October 7.

The Iran-backed group on Monday evening said they launched a "salvo of rockets" at the Israeli border town of Kiryat Shmona "in response to the enemy's targeting of the funeral in Aita al-Shaab", a Lebanese border town.

"Any harm to civilians will be reciprocated," the group added in a statement, AFP reported.

Lebanon's official National News Agency had earlier reported that Israel "targeted people who were participating in the funeral procession" of Hezbollah member Hassan Srur in Aita al-Shaab.

The strike hit a building less than 40 metres (130 feet) from the procession, causing damage but no casualties, the agency said, adding that "the Israeli enemy was trying to intimidate hundreds" of mourners, who nonetheless continued with the ceremony.

Not long after, artillery shells also fell near the funeral procession for another Hezbollah fighter in Beit Lif, a few kilometres further north, the correspondent said.

Shortly after the strikes, Hezbollah said it had fired artillery at two launchpads from Israel's Iron Dome air defense system.

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Arab World

G7 Ministers Urge End to Attacks Against Civilians in Middle East War

First aid responders inspect the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in the southern Lebanese town of Saksakiyeh on March 27, 2026. (AFP)
First aid responders inspect the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in the southern Lebanese town of Saksakiyeh on March 27, 2026. (AFP)
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G7 Ministers Urge End to Attacks Against Civilians in Middle East War

First aid responders inspect the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in the southern Lebanese town of Saksakiyeh on March 27, 2026. (AFP)
First aid responders inspect the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in the southern Lebanese town of Saksakiyeh on March 27, 2026. (AFP)

G7 foreign ministers Friday urged a stop to attacks against civilians in the Middle East war and urged Iran to immediately restore freedom of navigation in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

A joint statement, released in the name of all G7 members, including the United States, called for "an immediate cessation of attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure".

"There can be no justification for the deliberate targeting of civilians in situations of armed conflict as well as attacks on diplomatic facilities," it said, after the foreign ministers of the world's leading industrialized nations met in France.

The joint statement had initially not been expected, which had been seen as a potential sign of transatlantic tensions over the US-Israeli war against Iran.

US President Donald Trump had threatened to strike Iranian energy facilities, but has since rowed back on that warning to give Tehran more time for talks he said were taking place.

A major theme of the meeting outside Paris was Iran's de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy and trading bottleneck whose throttling has led to a surge in global energy prices.

"We reiterated the absolute necessity to permanently restore safe and toll-free freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," the statement added.

In their meeting, the ministers focused on efforts "to mitigate global economic shocks such as disruptions to economic, energy, fertilizer and commercial supply chains, which have direct impacts on our citizens", they said.

Arab World

Hezbollah Says Clashed with Israeli Forces in Two South Lebanon Villages

A man checks a destroyed house that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Saksakiyeh village, south Lebanon, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
A man checks a destroyed house that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Saksakiyeh village, south Lebanon, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
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Hezbollah Says Clashed with Israeli Forces in Two South Lebanon Villages

A man checks a destroyed house that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Saksakiyeh village, south Lebanon, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
A man checks a destroyed house that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Saksakiyeh village, south Lebanon, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Hezbollah said Friday its members had clashed directly with Israeli forces in two south Lebanon villages, as Israeli airstrikes on several areas killed at least six people, according to the health ministry.

In a statement, Hezbollah said its fighters had clashed with "Israeli enemy army forces in the villages of Bayada and Shamaa at point-blank range with light and medium weapons," while also claiming responsibility for attacks on Israeli border towns and positions.

The coastal village of Bayada, adjacent to Shamaa, lies eight kilometres from the border with Israel, according to AFP.

Israeli forces are pushing into numerous towns in southern Lebanon, with officials saying they aim to create a security zone reaching the Litani River, some 30 kilometres from the border, to push Hezbollah back and protect northern Israeli communities.

On Friday, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on several areas, particularly in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese state media.

One of the strikes, on the town of Saksakiyeh in the Sidon district, killed "four civilians and wounded eight others," in an initial toll reported by the health ministry.

At dawn, Israel had targeted the Tahouitet al-Ghadir area in Beirut's southern suburbs without prior warning, killing two people, according to the health ministry.

Israeli army spokesperson Effie Defrin said Friday that "Contrary to the declaration by the Lebanese government earlier this year - Hezbollah is still operating and conducting attacks from southern Lebanon."

"If the Lebanese government will not disarm Hezbollah, the (army) will," he said.

After nearly four weeks of war between Hezbollah and Israel, Nicolas Von Arx, regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross, warned Friday that "the humanitarian situation is worsening and civilians, as usual, are paying the highest price" in Lebanon.

After meeting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, he said, "Civilians must be protected wherever they are, whether they remain in their homes or are forced to flee".

According to the authorities, the war has forced more than one million people to flee their homes, and more than a thousand people have been killed since the conflict began.

Arab World

Syrian President to Visit Berlin on Monday, Says German Govt

This handout photograph released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (2nd-R) attending the early morning prayers for Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Damascus on March 20, 2026. (SANA/AFP)
This handout photograph released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (2nd-R) attending the early morning prayers for Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Damascus on March 20, 2026. (SANA/AFP)
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Syrian President to Visit Berlin on Monday, Says German Govt

This handout photograph released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (2nd-R) attending the early morning prayers for Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Damascus on March 20, 2026. (SANA/AFP)
This handout photograph released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (2nd-R) attending the early morning prayers for Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Damascus on March 20, 2026. (SANA/AFP)

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will visit Germany on Monday for talks with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a government spokesman in Berlin said.

"The chancellor will receive the president of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, at the chancellery on Monday... for his inaugural visit," spokesman Stefan Kornelius said Friday.

Sharaa led opposition forces to overthrow longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

He has since made several overseas trips, including to the United States and France.

That has already led to a series of international sanctions on Syria being lifted.

Sharaa had initially been due to visit Germany in January, but the trip was postponed at a time of clashes between Syrian government troops and US-backed Kurdish fighters.

Sharaa will also take part in an economic forum where "high-ranking business and government representatives" will discuss "prospects for economic recovery and the reconstruction of Syria", a foreign ministry spokesman said.

"The long conflict in Syria has had a devastating impact on the Syrian economy," the German spokesman said, noting "widespread poverty among the population and the high financial requirements for reconstruction".

"With the lifting of numerous EU, UN and other sanctions following the end of the Assad regime, the foundations for (economic recovery) have been laid," he said.