Hezbollah launches explosive-laden drones, dozens of rockets at northern Israel
IDF says air defenses intercepted 2 UAVs and some of the projectiles fired by the Iran-backed Lebanese terror group; no injuries reported
Lebanon’s Hezbollah terror group fired a large barrage of rockets at northern Israel on Friday night, as the country braces for an expected retaliatory attack by Iran or its proxies to an alleged Israeli strike in Syria that killed several Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members.
A statement from the Iran-backed terror group claiming responsibility for the rocket fire on the Galilee Panhandle said Hezbollah operatives launched dozens of Katyushas at Israel Defense Forces artillery positions in northern Israel.
The military said around 40 rockets were launched, some of which were intercepted, while others impacted open areas or fell short in Lebanon.
There were no reports of injuries in the attack.
The IDF also said air defenses shot down two explosive-laden drones launched by Hezbollah at northern Israel.
Sirens sounded amid the incident, including as a result of falling shrapnel from the interception.
Multiple Iron Dome interceptions seen over the Galilee Panhandle. https://t.co/zSXkgN2VVA pic.twitter.com/20KoQueqtL
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) April 12, 2024
Hezbollah also fired several projectiles from Lebanon at the Upper Galilee earlier in the day, which, according to the IDF, caused no injuries.
The IDF said it also shelled the launch sites.
The attacks Friday evening came not long after the IDF said it struck several buildings used by Hezbollah, where operatives were gathered, in southern Lebanon’s Ayta ash-Shab.
Another building belonging to the terror group in Taybeh was also hit, the IDF added.
The IDF says it struck several buildings used by Hezbollah, where operatives were gathered, in southern Lebanon's Ayta ash-Shab a short while ago.
Another building belonging to the terror group in Taybeh was also hit, the IDF adds.
Hezbollah fired several projectiles from… pic.twitter.com/Mnxqm6pPei
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) April 12, 2024
Since October 8, Hezbollah-led forces have attacked Israeli communities and military posts along the border on a daily basis with rockets, drones, anti-tank missiles and other means, with the group saying it is doing so to support Gaza amid the war there. Hezbollah is an Iranian proxy in Lebanon and Palestinian terror groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are backed by Iran.
Israel has threatened to go to war to force Hezbollah away from the border if it does not retreat and continues to threaten northern communities, from where some 70,000 people were evacuated to avoid the fighting.
So far, the skirmishes on the border have resulted in eight civilian deaths on the Israeli side, as well as the deaths of 10 IDF soldiers and reservists. There have also been several attacks from Syria, without any injuries.
Hezbollah has named 273 members who have been killed by Israel during the ongoing skirmishes, mostly in Lebanon, but some also in Syria. In Lebanon, another 53 operatives from other terror groups, a Lebanese soldier and at least 60 civilians, three of whom were journalists, have been killed.
Tensions in the region have been high since an alleged Israeli strike in Damascus last week killed seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members, among them a senior Quds Force commander, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi. Iran has vowed revenge.
The Iran-backed Hezbollah has said it supports Iran’s right to “punish” Israel, and in televised remarks last week, its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said a response was coming.
