The exchange of artillery fire between Hezbollah and Israel intensified on Thursday.
Hezbollah reported firing 48 Katyusha rockets at the Ein Zeitim position near Safad. Fragments of intercepted rockets fell within the villages of Rmeish, Yaroun and Ain Ebl. The Israeli army described this as the most violent attack by Hezbollah on northern Israel since hostilities began on the southern front on October 8.
Additionally, Hezbollah claimed to have fired two guided rockets at a house in the Manara kibbutz where Israeli soldiers were stationed, as well as at a Merkava tank in Al-Raheb. They also attacked an infantry unit in that area and targeted two other units in Dhaira and Jal al-Alam. Hezbollah’s fighters shelled positions in Birkat Richa, Kherbet Amer, Tel Shaar and Ramim. An Israeli soldier stationed in Sasa also came under attack.
Hezbollah reported six fighter deaths, including Abbas Mohammed Raad, the son of the head of the group’s parliamentary bloc, and Mohammad Hassan Ahmad Sherri, the nephew of MP Amin Sherri.
On the Israeli side, media reported alarm sirens sounding in the north three times within 30 minutes, with reported damage in Shlomi and Betzit. The Israeli air force struck the Al-Aliq region near al-Boustan and Yarin. Reconnaissance aircraft flew over the western and central sectors since Wednesday night. The Israeli army also bombed the vicinity of Tayr Harfa, Aita al-Shaab, Rmeish, Shihin, and Jibbein.
On Wednesday night, Israelis intensified attacks on villages including Majdel Zoun, Tayr Harfa, Alma al-Shaab, al-Qawzah, Shama, Naqoura, Labbouneh and Al-Alam. Flares were fired over border villages adjacent to the Blue Line, as infantry units targeted a motorcycle on the road to Naqoura, resulting in serious injuries to two young men who were subsequently taken to a hospital in Tyre.
