In a recent statement, the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah announced that it has targeted the settlement of Beit Hillel for the first time.
The group launched dozens of Katyusha rockets at this settlement, which is located in northern Israel, about five kilometers from Kiryat Shmona, a town closer to the Lebanese border that has frequently come under Hezbollah fire.
The attacks on Kiryat Shmona have led to a significant evacuation, with many Israelis fleeing to Tel Aviv and other areas. The settlement has been temporarily occupied by Israeli forces who are now in hiding due to ongoing precise strikes by Hezbollah.
Hezbollah explained that the assault on Beit Hillel was in retaliation for Israeli attacks on southern Lebanese villages, specifically Kfarkela and Deir Siriane in the Marjeyoun District, which resulted in civilian injuries. The group emphasized that targeting Beit Hillel was also a gesture of solidarity with Gaza and the Palestinian resistance.
Additionally, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a “direct hit” on Israeli surveillance equipment in the settlement of Ramya, destroying the equipment. The Financial Times reported significant damage in northern Israeli territories due to Hezbollah’s operations, marking the largest evacuation in the region since Israel’s establishment over 75 years ago. The newspaper noted that Hezbollah’s fire has caused extensive damage to buildings, crops, and commercial activities.
Israeli military data revealed that Hezbollah had utilized only a fraction of its arsenal between October 2023 and mid-July 2024, launching approximately 6,700 rockets and 340 drones. The impact of these attacks has been widespread and severe. Hezbollah has conducted around 2,500 military operations targeting Israeli sites and settlements over this period.
Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, has pledged retaliation for the recent assassination of senior commander Foud Shokor in a Beirut suburb. Nasrallah’s speech has heightened anxiety in Israel, with his vague threat leaving many uncertain about the nature of Hezbollah’s impending response.
