Authorities say that two separate Hezbollah missile attacks in northern Israel have killed seven people – the deadliest of such strikes in recent months.
Israel Katz, the Foreign Minister, said that an Israeli farmer and four agricultural workers from abroad were killed by rockets that landed near Metula. This town is located on the border of Lebanon.
Paramedics reported that a woman in 60s and an older man were killed later near Kibbutz Afek on the outskirts Haifa.
Hezbollah claimed to have fired a barrage of rockets at Israeli forces south and east of the Lebanese city of Khiam which is located across the border from Metula.
On Thursday, the Israeli military discovered two projectiles that crossed from Lebanon and fell in an open area close to Metula.
It said that in the afternoon, 55 projectiles were fired toward the Central Galilee region, Upper Galilee region, and Western Galilee region. It added that some of the projectiles had been intercepted, while others fell in open spaces.
Haaretz, Israel’s newspaper, reported that the farmer as well as the foreign workers were both killed in a farming area near Metula.
The article cited a local emergency response team member as saying that the Israeli military allowed the farmer and his workers to enter despite the fact that the area was inside a closed zone.
The military created the zone at the beginning of September, right before it launched its ground invasion into Lebanon to destroy Hezbollah’s weapons and infrastructure.
Two US special envoys were meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss a possible truce to end the war against Hezbollah when the deadly rocket attacks occurred.
Netanyahu told Amos Hochstein, and Brett McGurk the main issue was Israel’s ability “to thwart any threats to its security coming from Lebanon in a manner that will return our citizens safely to their home”, his office stated in a press release.
After almost a year’s worth of border fighting sparked off by the Gaza war, Israel launched an offensive against Hezbollah.
It said that it wanted to ensure safe return for tens and thousands of residents from northern Israeli border areas who were displaced by Hezbollah rocket attacks launched in support of Palestinians a day after Hamas’s deadly attack against Israel on 7th October 2023.
According to Lebanese officials, more than 2,800 people were killed in Lebanon between then and now, including 2,200 within the last five weeks. Another 1.2 million people have been displaced.
Israeli authorities claim that Hezbollah drones, missiles, and rocket attacks have killed more than 60 people in northern Israel and on the occupied Golan Height.
On Thursday, the Israeli army said that troops were continuing their operations in southern Lebanon and aircraft had hit dozens of Hezbollah target locations throughout the country.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said that Israeli strikes killed six paramedics at three southern towns.
It said that four members of the Hezbollah affiliated Islamic Health Society Civil Defence branch who provide emergency services were killed by Israeli forces when they targeted a gathering at Derdghaya Junction.
According to the ministry, a fifth IHS paramedic died in an airstrike on a vehicle near Deir al-Zahrani. A strike in Zefta also killed a paramedic of the Islamic Risala Scout Association which is affiliated with the Hezbollah-allied Amal Movement.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment. Since Israel intensified its air war against Hezbollah, five weeks ago, dozens of paramedics as well as other emergency workers were killed or injured.
Hezbollah has been accused by the military of using ambulances as a means to transport fighters and weapons. The IHS denies having any ties to military operations.
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