Hezbollah keeps up rocket fire on northern Israel; IDF chief warns any potential agreement will be enforced by fire

Hezbollah forces fired another 120 rockets and several drones at northern Israel on Thursday, wounding an elderly man in Kfar Masaryk and continuing its intense pace of attacks, killing and wounding several Israelis in recent days.

Lebanese authorities announced that an Israeli strike wounded UNIFIL peacekeepers and Lebanese Army Forces (LAF) soldiers, risking new international controversy over alleged Israeli attacks on the UN peacekeeping force.

Aftermath of the Israeli Drone Strike earlier on a Vehicle in the Lebanese Coastal City of Sidon. pic.twitter.com/Yyes98n5Hs

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 7, 2024

An alleged Israeli airstrike on Thursday struck a car near a checkpoint manned by the LAF and UNIFIL, the LAF said.

“The Israeli enemy targeted a car while it was passing through the Awali checkpoint in Sidon, which led to the killing of three citizens who were inside it, in addition to the injury of three soldiers manning the checkpoint and four members of the Malaysian” contingent in UNIFIL, according to the LAF statement.

Lebanese authorities do not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their casualty announcements. So far, the IDF hasn’t taken responsibility or commented on the strike's target.

מטוסי קרב של חיל האוויר תקפו לפני זמן קצר, מתחם פיקוד ושליטה במרחב צור ממנו פעלו מחבלי היחידה האווירית של חיזבאללה (127), בחמ״ל זה פעלה היחידה למימוש מתווי כטב״מי נפץ ואיסוף לעבר שטח מדינת ישראל<< pic.twitter.com/woLUm9s0F9

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) November 7, 2024

Israeli strikes on Thursday targeted a control complex of Hezbollah’s aerial unit (127) in the area of ​​Tyre, “in this headquarters, the unit operated to carry out suicide drone and intelligence collection missions toward the territory of the State of Israel.”

The IDF added that IAF fighter jets struck several other targets across the Lebanon, including ammunition depots, launchers and military buildings, as well as the rocket launcher used to attack the Haifa Bay area earlier in the day.

During one of the numerous rocket barrages throughout the day, an 85-year-old Israeli man was lightly wounded by rocket shrapnel in Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk, the Magen David Adom emergency services said. He was treated for his wounds and extreme anxiety at Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, medics added.

הרמטכ״ל, רב-אלוף הרצי הלוי, מפקד פיקוד הצפון, מפקד פיקוד העורף וראש אגף התכנון נפגשו היום עם ראשי הרשויות והמועצות בצפון מקרית שמונה, גליל עליון, מבואות חרמון, מעלה יוסף ושלומי>> pic.twitter.com/KRNhUopatl

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) November 7, 2024

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi toured the north on Thursday, meeting with mayors and council leaders.

“There is nothing that symbolizes victory more than the safe return of the residents, and we will do this together,” he told them.

Amid continuing efforts to reach a broad diplomatic arrangement to end the hostilities in Lebanon, Halevi cautioned: “In any political arrangement, if there is one, the IDF will have to enforce violations with fire.”

“We are damaging the infrastructure that Hezbollah built since 2006, we are going after it as hard as possible and we will not let it stand up. It doesn't end there, we continue with a lot of determination and strength. I meet the forces operating in the field, I’m full of pride to fight for the noble goal of returning residents safely.”

“Throughout the war, the level of coordination and cooperation between the IDF and the local authorities and the cities is one of the best we have ever known,” Halevi added.

Meanwhile, the IDF announced the death of Master Sgt. (res.) Guy Shabtay (39), from Jerusalem. He was killed during a firefight between forces of the Alon Brigade and Hezbollah terrorists in a village in southern Lebanon on Oct. 26, where five soldiers were killed and five others severely wounded.

On Friday morning, Hezbollah continued its attacks, firing 20 rockets and at least one drone at northern Israel.