Hezbollah drone slams into apartment building in Nahariya; none hurt but 2 apartments damaged

A drone launched by Hezbollah slammed into a high-rise apartment building in the city of Nahariya in northern Israel on Monday morning. While several people were treated for shock, none were wounded in the incident.

The IDF confirmed a drone launched by Hezbollah had struck the building but didn’t explain how it was able to penetrate the aerial defenses. Another drone was shot down over the sea around the same time, the army stated.

“Hezbollah’s attack on a residential building this morning in Nahariya is a serious incident, as is the shooting at the citizens of the north,” said IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi.

Surveillance camera footage shows the moment a Hezbollah drone launched from Lebanon impacted a residential building in Nahariya. pic.twitter.com/kedek5KCDl
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) September 9, 2024

“The IDF operates strongly in the north and is at a high level of readiness with operational plans, ready for any mission for which it will be required,” he added.

“It was very scary,” said nine-year-old Aviel Avshalom, who was in school during the drone attack, according to the Times of Israel. His mother, who lives near the school, said she rushed there while sirens were blaring, despite instructions to the parents to shelter in place and not pick up the children.

Dr. Maron Haj, a thoracic surgeon at Galilee Medical Center, said he was at work when he was informed of the attack on his building. “Everything in our apartment was ruined,” he said. “We can’t live there. We have to figure out what to do next.”

12 ילדים נהרגו לפני כחודשיים במג׳דל שמס מפגיעת רקטה. קיווינו שזו תהיה נקודת מפנה במלחמה. הבוקר חזרו מראות קשים של ילדים מבוהלים מחפשים מחסה במהלך מתקפת הכטבמים על נהריה.
מה עוד צריך לקרות כדי לשכנע את ממשלת ישראל שצריך לקבל החלטה אסטרטגית בצפון?! חוסר המדיניות יהרוג עוד ילדים!! pic.twitter.com/PzHiJ63vYO
— Rubi Hammerschlag | רובי המרשלג (@rubih67) September 9, 2024

Nahariya is located close enough to the border to endure frequent attacks but was not included in the October evacuations. During a recent drone attack, footage showed schoolchildren running to shelters in panic.

The drone attack was one of at least 10 attacks that Hezbollah claimed responsibility for on Monday.

Two IDF soldiers were lightly wounded when five rockets were fired at Shlomi, two of which landed near the soldiers.

Two more rockets targeted Kiryat Shmona, while a barrage of about 15 rockets was launched at the Western Galilee, and the area of Kfar Giladi. In the evening, two anti-tank missiles exploded in the area of Metula, according to Army Radio.

The IDF said it responded by attacking military buildings and an observation post in the area of Kafr Kila, and later shelled an observation post in Shuba with a tank. A Hezbollah terrorist in the area of Telusa was hit during an airstrike.

The IDF announced that the commander of the U.S. Army’s Central Command, General Michael Kurilla, visited the Northern Command headquarters in Safed on Sunday as Israel increased its threats against Hezbollah in recent days.

Together with senior IDF officers, Kurilla reviewed the progress of the conflict against Hezbollah forces, as well as the extensive preparations for a possible all-war breaking out in the north.

“The general’s visit deals with the threats at hand, this time with an emphasis on the northern arena from Lebanon and Iran… The IDF will continue to deepen the relationship with the United States Army out of a commitment to strengthening regional stability and coordination between the armies,” the IDF stated.

On Monday, an anonymous IDF official warned Hezbollah to stop its attacks in an interview with Maariv.

“From the moment the political leadership gives the green light, it will take the IDF just minutes to execute an operation in Lebanon,” he threatened.

According to The Jerusalem Post, the Northern Command has made extensive preparations to ensure that once an order is given, it can quickly transition to all-out combat and launch potential offensive operations inside Lebanon in the shortest time possible.

For instance, emergency warehouses have been organized and streamlined so that each soldier can quickly gather all the specialized equipment needed in the shortest possible time. Combat vehicles have been packed and reinforced, with all units fully aware of their potential combat zones and prepared to operate effectively in those areas.

In response to Israel's warnings, the deputy head of Hezbollah’s executive council, Ali Damoush, said Hezbollah is also ready to expand its operations.

“Escalation will be met with escalation,” Damoush said.

“The latest escalation on the part of Israel and the threat of preparations for new offensive operations inside Lebanon will not change the position of the organization and will not change the equations and remove Hezbollah from the battlefield.”

“We are not afraid of threats and intimidation and Hezbollah is determined to continue on the aid front (to Gaza) and will complete the work until the goals are achieved. Israel will not be able to return the residents of the north of the country to their homes except in one way, and that is the cessation of aggression in Gaza,” he added.