Hezbollah drone strike kills four Israeli soldiers, injures 67
Israeli air defences bypassed in deadliest attack since Lebanon invasion
Hezbollah’s aerial assault last night claimed the lives of four Israeli soldiers and left 67 others injured in what has been termed the deadliest strike since the Lebanon invasion commenced.
The attack, which took place in the Binyamina region, followed a series of rocket launches from Lebanon. Out of three drones launched, two were intercepted, but one managed to evade Israeli air defences, bypassing detection and preventing the activation of warning sirens.
The Israel Defence Force (IDF) reported it had conducted 200 airstrikes on Hezbollah targets across Lebanon in the past 24 hours, deploying four divisions to dismantle the group’s infrastructure in southern Lebanon. Despite these efforts, rocket fire on Israel continues unabated.
🇮🇱🇱🇧Israel confirms 4 IDF killed and 67 seriously injured following Hezbollah drone attack on Israeli military base.#IsraelisGenocidalEntity pic.twitter.com/0Ygulwe2Pm
— OnePath Network (@OnePathNetwork) October 14, 2024
This incident marks the second drone penetration in two days. On Saturday, during the Yom Kippur holiday, a drone struck a suburb of Tel Aviv, causing damage but not injuring anyone.
Hezbollah claimed the Binyamina attack was in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Beirut on Thursday that killed 22 people. The group stated it targeted Israel’s elite Golani brigade and launched numerous missiles to occupy Israeli air defence systems during the drone assault.
Israel’s national rescue service confirmed that 61 people were wounded in the attack. Such a high number of casualties from drones or missiles is rare, given Israel’s advanced air-defence systems. The exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel has been almost constant since the Gaza war began a year ago, with escalating hostilities.
Earlier this month, Israel began a ground operation in Lebanon to weaken Hezbollah and push the militant group away from the border, aiming to allow displaced Israelis to return home.
On Monday morning, explosions occurred outside Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, causing tents to catch fire and leading to panic as injured people were carried into the hospital.
The deadly strike by Hezbollah coincided with the United States’ announcement to send a new air-defence system to Israel, along with troops to operate it. An Israeli army spokesperson did not provide a timeline for this deployment.
Israel is currently engaged in conflicts with both Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both of which are supported by Iran. An Israeli retaliatory strike on Iran is anticipated following a missile attack earlier this month. Iran has vowed to respond to any Israeli aggression.
The Lebanese health ministry reports over 1,300 deaths since Israel began its offensive against Hezbollah last month.
An Israeli airstrike last night killed at least 20 people, including children, at a school in Gaza’s Nuseirat, which was sheltering displaced Palestinians. An estimated 30,000 people have died in Gaza since Israel’s invasion in response to Hamas’s attacks on October 7 last year, which resulted in 1,195 Israeli deaths.
As the United States announced the new air-defence system for Israel, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that attacks on peacekeepers could constitute a war crime, following injuries to five peacekeepers by the IDF. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on the UN to relocate peacekeepers from southern Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of using them as human shields.
What Other Media Are Saying
- PBS News Hour reports Hezbollah claims responsibility for a drone strike in central Israel, retaliating for strikes on Beirut, highlighting escalating conflict and civilian casualties.(read more)
- The Guardian reports on a Hezbollah drone attack killing four IDF soldiers, with Hezbollah retaliating for Israeli strikes in Beirut, highlighting escalating conflict and international involvement.(read more)
- NPR reports on Hezbollah’s drone strike in Binyamina, Israel, injuring over 60, with specifics of the target unclear and U.S. sending THAAD defense system to bolster Israeli defenses.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened in Hezbollah’s aerial assault last night?
Four Israeli soldiers were killed and 67 others injured in the Binyamina region.
How did the drone manage to bypass Israeli air defenses?
One drone evaded detection and prevented the activation of warning sirens.
What has been Israel’s response to Hezbollah’s attacks?
The IDF conducted 200 airstrikes on Hezbollah targets and deployed four divisions in southern Lebanon.
Why did Hezbollah claim they attacked Israel?
Hezbollah stated it was in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Beirut that killed 22 people.
What are the recent developments involving the United States and Israel’s air defense?
The U.S. announced sending a new air-defense system to Israel, along with troops to operate it.
