Four IDF soldiers wounded in latest Hezbollah attacks; IDF hits back killing several terrorists in Lebanon

Four Israeli soldiers were wounded, including one in serious condition, after being hit by shrapnel from a rocket interception during an attack by Hezbollah on the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona, the IDF stated on Saturday.

Beginning Saturday afternoon, the Lebanese terror group carried out a series of attacks on northern Israel, including a 10-rocket barrage and another 15-rocket launch that wounded the four soldiers.

Most of the volley was intercepted but the police said several rockets struck buildings in the city, causing serious damage.

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In the past 72 hours, #Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 22 attacks against Israel using high-trajectory fire (including Grad and Falaq rockets), anti-tank missiles, artillery guns and suicide UAVs. Read the full daily… pic.twitter.com/O39F9spw6S

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Shortly after, another eight rockets were fired toward the city but did not result in any injuries. Other towns that were targeted by rocket attacks include Zar’it, Ma’ayan Baruch, and Margaliot, where an impact significantly damaged several buildings.

The IDF also shot down two drones approaching Israeli airspace over southern Lebanon on Saturday evening and intercepted another Hezbollah drone on Sunday.

כוח צה"ל תקף את המשגר ממנו בוצעו שיגורים לעבר מרחב זרעית מוקדם יותר היום. בנוסף, מטוסי קרב תקפו משגר של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחב חולא, ממנו בוצעו שיגורים לעבר מעיין ברוך מוקדם יותר היום.
כמו כן, מטוסי קרב תקפו מבנה צבאי בו פעל מחבל של הארגון במרחב עייתא א-שעב>> pic.twitter.com/3hrsrE7Tq8

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) July 13, 2024

The Israeli Air Force (IAF), in response, struck the launchers used to attack Zar’it and Ma’ayan Baruch, which were located in Houla, while also striking a military building in Ayta al-Sha’ab.

An Israeli drone then struck a Hezbollah field commander in the town of Tabnit, while two operatives were struck in Deir Mimas as they were preparing to launch rockets at Israel.

כוחות צה"ל זיהו לפני זמן קצר, שני מחבלים מארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחב דיר מימס שבדרום לבנון נערכים לשיגור לעבר שטח ישראל.
זמן קצר לאחר הזיהוי, כלי טיס של חיל האוויר תקף את המחבלים.

בנוסף, צה"ל תקף בירי ארטילרי במרחבים כפר כילא ועלמה א-שעב שבדרום לבנון pic.twitter.com/XMWWJpBBba

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) July 13, 2024

According to the French outlet AFP, an unnamed Hezbollah source claimed the two were civilians, while also admitting they were members of Hezbollah and its allied Shiite Muslim movement Amal, respectively.

In the evening, the IDF carried out another wave of strikes, hitting five areas in southern Lebanon simultaneously, including the launcher used to fire at Kiryat Shmona earlier, an observation post, and terror infrastructure.

As a result of Hezbollah’s near-daily attacks since last October, 12 Israeli civilians and 17 IDF soldiers have been killed so far, including Sgt. First Class (res.) Valeri Chefonov (33), from Netanya, was confirmed to have died from wounds sustained a day earlier in a drone strike near Kibbutz Kabri.

Chefonov served as a non-commissioned officer in the 228th “Alon” Reserve Brigade.

Meanwhile, the northern front’s eastern sector appears to be heating up as well, as the IDF announced its second strike against Syrian army positions within a few days.

“Tonight the IDF attacked a central headquarters and military infrastructure of the Syrian army,” the IDF said in a statement early on Sunday morning.

“In addition, targets used by the air defense system of the Syrian army were attacked. This attack was carried out in response to the interception of the two drones that made their way from Syrian territory towards the area north of Eilat yesterday (Saturday). The Syrian regime is responsible for any terrorist activity on its territory and will bear the consequences for it,” the statement read.

According to the Syrian military, one soldier was killed and three others were injured in the strikes on targets in the suburb of Kafr Sousa near the capital of Damascus.

The IDF reiterated its stance that it sees the Syrian regime as responsible for attacks originating in Syrian territory.

Early on Sunday morning, two drones were intercepted by fighter jets and the Iron Dome aerial defense system over an industrial zone to the north of Eilat, Israel’s southernmost town on the Red Sea.