Hezbollah rockets cause 'massive destruction' in north Israel as warplanes wreak havoc in south Lebanon
The intensified crossfire came in the aftermath of Israel’s terror attacks against Lebanon and after two Israeli soldiers were killed by Hezbollah
Israeli warplanes launched heavy and indiscriminate attacks across the south of Lebanon on 19 September, as Hezbollah turned up the heat against Israel’s northern settlements and military sites.
“The number of air raids launched by the enemy's warplanes since 9:00 PM today has exceeded 52,” Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) correspondent said on Thursday night. “These raids targeted the forested areas in Al-Mahmoudiyah, the outskirts of Al-Aishiyah, the Al-Rayhan Heights, and the vicinity of the Barghaz River,” according to NNA.
Israel also “fired 10 rockets towards Birkat al-Jabour” in south Lebanon and launched airstrikes targeting areas near Lake Qaraoun in the eastern Bekaa region of Lebanon.
The Israeli army said in a statement on Thursday evening that it struck what it described as over 100 Hezbollah rocket launchers.
Hezbollah carried out 17 operations against Israel on 19 September.
Marking its 17th and final operation on Thursday, Hezbollah announced “targeting the Metula site with a salvo of Falaq rockets” that evening, which came in response “to the enemy’s attacks” on civilians and southern villages, Hezbollah said in a statement via its media page.
The attack on Metula caused extensive damage. Hebrew Channel 14 correspondent Boaz Golan said six to eight Burkan missiles were fired at the Metula settlement despite Hezbollah’s statement listing them as Falaq.
It caused “massive destruction, fires and direct damage to buildings … I have not seen anything like this since the beginning of the war,” said the head of Metula settlement’s regional council, David Azoulay. “The Israeli government is not doing anything to remove the threat,” the settler-official added.
Hezbollah carried out over a dozen other attacks, including a suicide drone operation against a newly established army headquarters near Yaara, and several artillery and rocket attacks on military bases, including the headquarters of the 810th Hermon Brigade in the Ma’ale Golani barracks.
Tel Aviv admitted the deaths of two soldiers and the injury of nine others from Hezbollah’s attacks on Thursday.
Israeli airstrikes targeted Lebanon throughout most of 19 September, particularly in the minutes leading up to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s speech.
During the speech, Israeli jets made sonic booms and fired flares over the Lebanese capital.
Israel has redeployed its 98th Division from Gaza to the northern front and has increased threats of an expanded military operation against south Lebanon.
Hebrew news outlet Channel 14 reported on 19 September that the army plans to “increase the number of its attacks on Lebanon by three times every day.”
Days ago, the head of the Israeli army’s Northern Command called for a ground incursion and establishment of a buffer zone in south Lebanon.
“This idiot, the commander of the northern region in the enemy’s army, suggested establishing a security belt,” Nasrallah said during his speech. “We hope that they will enter our lands, we welcome this … because … we will have a historic opportunity that … will have major effects on this battle.”
“A security belt will turn into a trap … into a major ambush … into hell [for the Israeli army],” Nasrallah added.
He also vowed a “just” response to the Israeli terror attacks against Lebanon this week that detonated thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies.
The multi-wave attacks killed 37 people and wounded thousands.