In what has since become the largest flare-up between Hezbollah and Israel since the 2006 Lebanon War, on Friday morning Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching at least ten rockets into Israel, prompting Israel to then strike targets in South Lebanon.
In a statement released to international media, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) condemned the escalation, stating "This is a very serious situation, and we urge all sides to cease fire".
The New Arab will be providing live and regular updates throughout the day, with our Levantine correspondent following developments on the ground.