Israel
Israel hit with fresh wave of rocket strikes as IDF plans Jabalia raid
The exchanges have collapsed the Gaza ceasefire and put pressure on the truce in Lebanon
March 25, 2025 11:50
The exchanges have collapsed the Gaza ceasefire and put pressure on the truce in Lebanon
March 25, 2025 11:50A flurry of rocket attacks were launched at Israel yesterday, with strikes coming from Lebanon, Gaza and Yemen over the past 48 hours.
The collapse of the Gaza ceasefire, which saw Israel target several parts of the Strip with strikes of its own, has prompted a renewal of hostilities with long-standing regional rivals.
Rocket fire came from both the Houthis in Yemen and militant groups in Gaza, with Palestinian Islamic Jihad claiming responsibility for the latter.
The Yemeni rockets, the sixth volley this week, were intercepted outside of Israel, but shrapnel still fell on the Israeli city of Beit Shamesh. Those from Gaza, meanwhile, were targeted at Sderot and were also intercepted.
Nonetheless, the attacks sparked a response from the IDF, with return strikes launched at several targets in Gaza. The army claimed to have destroyed over 100 vehicles used in the October 7 attacks, while dozens of people have reportedly been killed in the Strip.
A strike on a Khan Younis hospital eliminated a Hamas leader, Ismail Barhoum, while Al-Jazeera journalist Hossam Shabat was also killed, according to Hamas. The IDF denied the group’s claim that Barhoum was receiving medical treatment at the hospital and alleged that Shabat also operated as a terrorist sniper.
The army also announced that it is planning to begin a ground operation in Jabalia, the area from which it said the Gazan rockets originated. A warning sent to residents of the area, which houses a major refugee camp, said: “To all residents of the Gaza Strip located in the Jabalia area, this is a final advance warning before the raid. Terrorist organisations return and launch their rockets from inside [civilian areas].”
Elsewhere, the truce with Hezbollah was put under strain following an exchange of cross-border rocket fire between Israel and southern Lebanon.
IDF troops have remained in the country beyond the withdrawal deadline stipulated by the ceasefire, with commanders claiming that their presence is necessary due to the delayed deployment of the Lebanese Army, which was due to take their place.
Lebanese state media reported that at least six people were killed following the latest Israeli strikes, which Prime Minister Netanyahu said would be targeting terrorist infrastructure.
Hezbollah, however, has distanced itself from the violence, claiming that it was not responsible for the attacks against Israel last weekend.
Finally, Israel struck a number of targets in Syria with the intention of destroying military capabilities left over from the fallen Assad regime, which it fears could be used by the new government under former Al Qaeda fighter Ahmed Al-Sharaa. Local officials report that five people were killed by the shelling.