Eleven people were injured in Tira, a central Arab town in Israel, on Saturday after a rocket attack launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon. This occurred as Israel retaliated against the Iran-backed terror group, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people, including two senior Hezbollah figures.
Three people suffered moderate injuries and eight sustained minor injuries from shrapnel and broken glass when one of the three rockets struck a home directly. Seven others received treatment for anxiety.
Sirens blared across central Israel shortly before 2:30 a.m., triggered by the attack, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Two of the three rockets launched seemed to be successfully intercepted by air defenses.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack, stating they had targeted the Glilot base outside Tel Aviv, where the IDF’s 8200 intelligence unit is located. The base is roughly 20 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of Tira.
A resident of Tira, Ibrahim Qassem, told Ynet news he had only 40 seconds between the siren and the impact. According to the IDF Home Front Command, Tira residents should have 90 seconds of warning time. The explosion damaged Qassem’s home, despite his residence being a significant distance from the blast site.
Another resident, Tamer Abdelhay, shared with Walla that “in 90% of the homes there is no safe room or shelter, so there’s nowhere to escape to…During the sirens, you can only pray.”
Later on Saturday, 20 more rockets were fired from Lebanon towards northern Israel, triggering sirens in the Galilee, Haifa Bay area, and Golan Heights. Some rockets were intercepted, some hit open areas, but there were no reports of injuries or significant damage.
Also on Saturday, several drones launched from Lebanon set off sirens in the Haifa area. The IDF reported that one drone was successfully shot down by the Israeli Air Force, while another reportedly struck a factory building in an industrial zone near Nahariya. There were no reports of injuries in this attack.
Three additional drones launched from Iraq were shot down by Israeli air defenses over the Red Sea. The drones were identified as originating from an area the IDF refers to as “the east,” a term often associated with attacks originating from Iraq.
The Iranian-supported Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility, asserting that they had targeted sites in Eilat. No sirens activated in Eilat as the drones were destroyed before entering Israel’s airspace.
Throughout October alone, more than 100 drones were launched at Israel, primarily from Lebanon and Iraq.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that 52 people had been killed in Israeli strikes in eastern Lebanon on Friday. These strikes were launched without the typical evacuation warnings usually issued by the IDF.
Without distinguishing between civilians and combatants, the ministry reported “52 people killed and 72 wounded in an updated toll of today’s Israeli enemy strikes on the Baalbek-Hermel region.”
Twelve victims were killed in the village of Amhaz, nine others in Yunin, and eight in Bednayel.
The IDF disclosed that their airstrikes in the Tyre region on Friday resulted in the deaths of Moein Musa Izz al-Din, the commander of Hezbollah’s coastal regional unit, and Hassan Majed Diab, the commander of the unit’s artillery array.
Diab was reportedly responsible for a rocket barrage on the Haifa Bay area on Thursday, which killed a mother and son, along with over 400 other rockets launched in the past month, according to the IDF.
Ali Hamieh, Lebanon’s Hezbollah-affiliated transportation minister, stated that an Israeli strike near a border crossing between northeast Lebanon and Syria forced the closure of the crossing after it had been partially reopened.
The strike targeted the same location within Syria, just beyond the Syrian border installation, as an Israeli bombardment last month that closed the crossing, Hamieh said. It had been partially reopened for car traffic but not trucks and was now closed again.
Israel accuses Hezbollah of smuggling Iranian weapons into Lebanon through civilian border crossings with Syria.
Since Israel increased its strikes in September, hundreds of thousands of people, primarily Syrians, have fled Lebanon for Syria.
IDF troops continued ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon as the week progressed. The IDF stated that soldiers from the 91st and 146th divisions raided Hezbollah sites, confiscated weapons, and directed airstrikes against Hezbollah operatives during operations over the past day.
During a tour of southern Lebanon on Friday, an army vehicle carrying the chief of the IDF Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, and chief of the Central Command, Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, overturned.
Gordin sustained minor injuries in the incident and, after a brief hospital visit, returned to duty, the IDF said.
Since October 8th, Hezbollah-led forces have attacked Israeli communities and military posts bordering Lebanon on a near-daily basis. The group states their actions are in support of Gaza during the ongoing conflict.
Roughly 60,000 residents were evacuated from northern towns near the Lebanon border shortly after the Hamas attack on October 7th. Evacuations occurred amid fears of a similar attack by Hezbollah and increasing rocket fire.
The attacks on northern Israel since October 2023 have resulted in 39 civilian deaths. Additionally, 61 IDF reservists and soldiers have lost their lives in cross-border skirmishes and the ground operation launched in southern Lebanon in late September.
Two soldiers have been killed in a drone attack originating in Iraq, and there have been several attacks from Syria, with no reported casualties. The IDF estimates that over 2,000 Hezbollah operative have been killed in the conflict. Around 100 members of other terror groups, along with hundreds of civilians, have also reportedly been killed in Lebanon.
Interview Between the Time.news Editor and Dr. Sarah Halabi, Middle East Conflict Expert
Editor: Good morning, Dr. Halabi. Thank you for joining us today as we discuss the recent escalation in violence between Israel and Hezbollah. The events in Tira last Saturday were quite alarming, with rockets being launched from Lebanon and injuries reported. What can you tell us about the implications of such attacks?
Dr. Halabi: Good morning, and thank you for having me. The situation in Tira highlights the increasingly volatile nature of the Lebanese-Israeli border. The rocket attacks not only injure civilians but also heighten the tensions and unpredictability in the region. The fact that Hezbollah launched these rockets—targeting a significant military site like the Glilot base—indicates a strategic escalation on their part.
Editor: Yes, exactly. There were reports that sirens blared just before the rockets struck. It seems residents had very little time to react. For instance, one resident mentioned having only 40 seconds to respond. What does this indicate about the state of preparedness for civilian populations in these areas?
Dr. Halabi: It raises serious concerns about civil defense preparedness and the efficacy of the warning systems in place. The expectation is that residents would have a reasonable amount of time—90 seconds based on IDF guidelines—to seek shelter. However, this was clearly not the case for many in Tira. With reports stating that many homes lack proper shelters, we see a stark reality where people’s safety is compromised amidst conflict. The psychological toll is also significant, as evidenced by residents suffering from anxiety after the attacks.
Editor: It’s troubling to think about the psychological impact, especially when we consider the ongoing violence. Following the initial attacks, we saw a flurry of additional rocket fire and even drone activity. What does this suggest about Hezbollah’s strategy and capabilities at this moment?
Dr. Halabi: Hezbollah’s ability to launch multiple attacks in quick succession, including drone operations, suggests they are keenly aware of their operational capabilities and perhaps emboldened by the support they receive from Iran. They are effectively testing Israel’s air defenses while also demonstrating their resolve in the face of Israeli airstrikes, which have already resulted in significant casualties on both sides.
Editor: Speaking of casualties, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported 52 fatalities from Israeli strikes in eastern Lebanon. This raises questions about the humanitarian implications. How do you view the balance between military objectives and civilian safety in such operations?
Dr. Halabi: It’s a delicate balance, indeed. Israel’s military operations are often justified as necessary for national security, particularly in targeting Hezbollah’s leadership and military infrastructure. However, the high civilian casualty rate is a severe humanitarian concern. There are increasing calls for both sides to adhere to international humanitarian law, which emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between combatants and civilians. The loss of life, particularly of innocent civilians, fuels further animosity and complicates any potential for dialogue.
Editor: Absolutely, that cycle of violence seems never-ending. With Israel conducting ongoing ground operations in southern Lebanon, what do you foresee as the possible outcomes in the near term?
Dr. Halabi: We could be facing a protracted conflict if both sides remain entrenched in their positions. The continual military exchange not only deteriorates the security situation in Lebanon and Israel but also exacerbates the humanitarian crisis. There is a risk of expanding the conflict if more groups, such as those in Iraq—associated with Iran—decide to get involved. A diplomatic resolution appears to be increasingly distant, requiring urgent international attention to de-escalate tensions.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Halabi. Your insights help clarify the complexities and challenges at play in this ongoing situation. We hope for a peaceful resolution soon.
Dr. Halabi: Thank you for having me. I share that hope, and we must continue advocating for dialogue and humanitarian solutions in the face of this conflict.