7 dead in Israel from Hezbollah’s ‘Deadliest’ airstrikes, reports IDF

Seven people died in northern Israel on Thursday due to strikes from Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Israeli military labeled these attacks the “deadliest cross-border” airstrikes since the conflict began. Among the victims, four were foreign workers, and three were Israeli citizens. In retaliation, Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah in Lebanon, killing 24 people, according to health officials cited by the Associated Press (AP).

“Hezbollah rockets killed seven innocent civilians inside Israel today. We will not let Hezbollah’s deadly attacks go unanswered,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared on X.

The violence began with consecutive rocket attacks on Israel, striking an agricultural area in Metula, the country’s northernmost town. Local officials reported that four foreign workers and an Israeli farmer were killed. Shortly after, the Israeli military confirmed another wave of approximately 25 rockets hit an olive grove in a suburb of Haifa, resulting in two additional deaths and injuries to two others.

Amid these escalations, US diplomats are in the region advocating for ceasefires in both Lebanon and Gaza. Their aim is to de-escalate ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, especially as the Biden administration nears its final months. Increased pressure is evident with the upcoming U.S. elections next week.

In response to Hezbollah’s aggression, Israel launched airstrikes early Friday targeting southern suburbs of Beirut. This marked the first strikes in that area in nearly a week. Earlier, Israeli forces targeted weapons storage facilities and command centers used by Hezbollah’s Radwan Forces and its munitions unit in Syria. The IDF stated, “Following IDF intelligence, the IAF (Israeli Air Force) struck weapons storage facilities and command centers used by Hezbollah’s Radwan Forces in Al-Qusayr, Syria.”

The Israeli military added that Hezbollah’s Munitions Unit is responsible for storing weapons inside Lebanon and has recently expanded its operations into Al-Qusayr, near the Syrian-Lebanese border. This expansion establishes logistical infrastructure for transferring weapons from Syria into Lebanon via border crossings. As tensions rise, both sides prepare for further confrontations, and the international community watches closely.