Hezbollah attacks hit Beit Hillel, Metula and Manara | The Jewish Press – JewishPress.com | Hana Levi Julian | 17 Sivan 5784 – Sunday, June 23, 2024

Photo credit: IDF Arab spokesman Avichay Adraee / Twitter

Iran’s Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah, is expanding the reach and intensity of its attacks on northern Israel as both sides prepare for an increasingly likely third Lebanon war.

For the first time since October 8, red alert sirens were heard on Sunday morning in the Misgav district of the regional council, south of Karmiel.

Shortly afterwards, an explosive suicide drone was shot down by the Israeli air defense system. Israeli media reports that a Rafael Advanced Defense Systems factory is located in the area.

Residents reported Israel’s News from Channel 12 that an interception was heard before the Red Alert siren sounded, suggesting that the siren was probably activated to protect residents from falling shrapnel, rather than to avert the attack itself.

Israel’s air defense system also intercepted a Hezbollah surveillance drone launched from Lebanon toward the Lower Galilee at around 11:24 a.m. A red alert for rocket attacks was activated in the area due to the risk of shrapnel falling from the interceptor missile. However, “according to protocol, no warning was issued regarding infiltration by enemy aircraft,” the Israeli army said.

Shortly before 10 a.m., Israeli Air Force fighter jets intercepted an explosive suicide drone heading toward Israeli territory “from the east,” the IDF said.

Explosive drone hits Beit Hillel
Earlier, a drone loaded with explosives from Lebanon had hit the northern community of Beit Hillel.

“During the incident, an interceptor was launched at the drone, firing rockets and rocket sirens due to the possibility of falling shrapnel. The incident is currently under investigation,” the Israeli army said.

No one was physically injured in the attack.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for shooting down the “attack drone,” saying it was aimed at the “IDF military headquarters in Beit Hillel” and was fired in response to an attack in Al-Khiara, Lebanon, a day earlier.

During the night between Saturday and Sunday, Israeli Air Force fighter jets attacked a Hezbollah military structure and observation post in the Kfarkela area. They also hit a Hezbollah terrorist cell identified by the Israeli Air Force in the Taybeh area.

Manara, Metula in flames
Two anti-tank missiles fired from Lebanon hit the northern border town of Manara around mid-morning on Saturday.

According to the Upper Galilee Regional Council, the rockets hit agricultural land in the kibbutz and started a fire there, but no one was injured.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its forces had attacked a military position.

Three houses in the northern border town of Metula were hit by anti-tank missiles fired from Lebanon; both houses sparked fires on impact.

“Three houses were damaged and an entire street of farms burned down,” said Metula’s mayor David Azoulay Galei Tzahal Army Radio in an interview on Sunday morning.

“Forty percent of residents’ homes have been damaged; nearly 200 homes have burned down in the last eight months.”

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the rocket fire and said it targeted houses used by Israeli forces.

Miraculously, there were no reports of injuries.

In response, Israeli artillery forces shelled the source of the attacks.