On Wednesday, northern Israeli settlements experienced numerous rocket alerts as Hezbollah launched “unprecedented” missile attacks. Over 50 air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel as the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) reported a substantial number of projectiles fired from Lebanon.
Hezbollah initiated the assault with approximately 90 missiles in the morning. The IOF stated, “Crashes were detected in several areas in the north, causing fires in multiple locations, the details are under investigation.” Following this, Hezbollah launched a second wave of at least 70 missiles.
Later in the day, the IOF confirmed that “more than 160 missiles” had been fired by Hezbollah. Despite the IOF’s claims of striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, sirens continued to blare in Israeli settlements, according to Tehran Times.
Hezbollah, taking responsibility for the rocket barrages, also utilized drones to target Israeli military sites, including one in Zar’it. Reports indicated an attack on Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, an Israeli military research and development company.
Sirens were heard in Safad, Rosh Pina, and Tabarayya, among other towns in the Israeli-occupied al-Jaleel region (Galilee). The IOF advised Israelis within ten kilometers of the Lebanese border to take shelter. Israeli media reported a significant fire in the Biriya forest near Safad, with extensive firefighting efforts underway.
The Israeli news outlet Ynet described the attack as “unprecedented.” The mayor of Tabarayya, Yossi Nevea, stated, “The feeling is very difficult, this is the first time in months that there has been an alarm here.”
Social media footage showed attempts by the Israeli Iron Dome to intercept the incoming rockets and the impacts of the strikes in Meron, home to the largest military air traffic control and surveillance station in the north, which has been regularly targeted by Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has been conducting daily attacks on Israel in solidarity with Gaza. The conflict has escalated since the start of the U.S.-backed Israeli war on the besieged enclave in October last year, raising concerns of a larger confrontation between Hezbollah and the Israeli regime.
An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on Tuesday night killed four people, including Taleb Sami Abdallah (Abu Taleb), a prominent Hezbollah leader. In response, Hezbollah announced several operations on Wednesday, including guided missile attacks on an Israeli military factory and various military sites, such as bases in Ein Zeitim, Ami’ad, and Meron. Hezbollah also targeted an armored military vehicle factory, using dozens of advanced Katyusha rockets in each operation.
Senior Hezbollah official, Hashem Safieddine, declared on Wednesday that the group would intensify the force and frequency of its operations against the Israeli occupation.
