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IDF Spokesperson/TPS-IL on 17 March, 2026
Israel Braces for Night of Heavy Hezbollah Rocket Barrages
Jerusalem, 17 March, 2026 (TPS-IL) -- Israel on Tuesday braced for a night of rocket fire as the military warned that Hezbollah was preparing large-scale attacks following the assassination of Iranian leader Ali Larijani.
Recent intelligence showed “increased preparations by Hezbollah to launch rocket barrages toward the territory of the State of Israel in the coming hours” toward the northern and potentially central regions of the country, the Israel Defense Forces said. The IDF stressed that forces were “alert and ready for attack and defense.”
The move follows escalated fire on March 12, when Hezbollah fired roughly 220 rockets and drones at northern Israel.
Authorities in northern Israel have been notifying residents to remain close to protected areas, following an IDF decision to share advance warnings after refraining from doing so last week. “Around 7:00 PM, an attack is expected from Lebanon. I ask that you obey the instructions and remain near a protected area as long as necessary,” said Moshe Davidovich, head of the Asher Regional Council, in a video posted on social media. Other northern council leaders echoed the message, stressing vigilance and compliance with the Home Front Command.
Residents in northern Israel were urged to remain near protected spaces and limit non-essential movement. The Home Front Command advised preparing for the possibility of multiple alarms and extended shelter stays, with essentials such as water, charged phones, and basic supplies. However, there have been no instructions to evacuate.
Earlier in the day, the IDF said it had already struck Hezbollah targets in Beirut and the Lebanon Valley, including three launch sites, weapons depots, and terrorist headquarters. Among the targets was an underground cache of cruise missiles.
Since the start of coordinated Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran on February 28, the IDF has maintained continuous operations against Hezbollah infrastructure throughout southern Lebanon and Beirut.
The escalation comes after Israel announced it killed Ali Larijani, Iran’s de facto leader.
Following Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, Hezbollah began daily rocket fire at northern Israeli communities, prompting thousands of residents to flee. Since November 2024, Israel has carried out numerous airstrikes against Hezbollah activities in violation of the ceasefire. The ceasefire completely collapsed on March 2 when Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel following the assassination of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marking the terror group’s first launches in more than a year.
The IDF reported killing around 380 Hezbollah operatives and striking roughly 950 to 1,000 targets in 2025. These included launchers, weapons depots, military structures, and underground shafts. The IDF also accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire about 1,920 times during the year.
The ceasefire requires Hezbollah to withdraw its armed forces from southern Lebanon and prohibits it from operating south of the Litani River.
