Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for launching a missile barrage at Haifa and sending a swarm of attack drones to strike the Ein Shemer base, located east of Hadera. Meanwhile, Israel confirmed the death of two Golani Brigade soldiers and multiple injuries among its officers and troops during intense battles in southern Lebanon. Israeli airstrikes continue to target both southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.
In a statement released today, Hezbollah said it bombarded Kiryot, north of Haifa, with a series of missiles, later confirming that the city of Haifa was also hit with precision rockets. Additionally, the group launched attack drones aimed at the Ein Shemer base.
Earlier on Friday, Hezbollah stated that its fighters had shelled Israeli soldiers near Kafr Kila and Aita ash-Shaab, both in southern Lebanon. Another attack targeted Israeli forces in the settlement of Shlomi in the Galilee. The group also struck Israeli troops as they attempted to evacuate their wounded and dead near Aita ash-Shaab. Furthermore, Hezbollah reported hitting Yoav base in the occupied Golan Heights with rockets.
In a separate incident, Hezbollah claimed it successfully forced an Israeli drone out of Lebanese airspace by launching a surface-to-air missile at it. Images circulating online show Israel’s interception of missiles fired from Lebanon towards northern Haifa Bay, near the industrial area of Acre.
Israeli Casualties and Damage
The Israeli army confirmed that several of its officers and soldiers were killed or injured in southern Lebanon. Rambam Medical Center reported receiving 12 injured soldiers since Thursday, two of whom were from the elite Golani Brigade and died from their wounds. According to the Israeli military, dozens of its troops were injured over the past 24 hours in battles along the Lebanese border.
Israeli military data indicates that 47 soldiers remain in critical condition, with 191 sustaining moderate injuries and 40 suffering minor wounds. The army claims it has destroyed numerous Hezbollah weapons depots, tunnel entrances, and other infrastructure during these operations. In a statement, the Israeli military also mentioned uncovering an underground path in a combat zone and striking a Hezbollah command center from which multiple rocket attacks on Israel were launched.
Ongoing Strikes and Military Actions
Al Jazeera reported that Israeli airstrikes hit the towns of Tulin, Zawtar al-Sharqiyya, and Braachit in southern Lebanon on Friday evening. Earlier in the day, two Israeli airstrikes targeted the towns of Taybeh and Shamstar in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley.
In response to the escalating conflict, Israel’s army has called up an additional reserve brigade to bolster its forces along the Lebanese front and aid in returning northern residents to their homes.
Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi stated that the military remains determined to strike Hezbollah with maximum force, targeting its top leadership. Meanwhile, an Israeli military official estimated that 1,500 Hezbollah militants have been killed since the escalation began.
Since October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah joined the conflict to support Gaza, Israel has reported the deaths of 78 soldiers and civilians in the ongoing confrontations with Hezbollah.
The border regions of southern Lebanon have seen daily exchanges of fire between the Israeli army and Hezbollah since October 8, following Israel’s declaration of war on Gaza. In early October, Israel launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon aimed at striking Hezbollah positions.