Late-night rocket attack on Safed causes ‘significant damage’ to power grid, ignites forest fires

IDF strikes two terrorists in Syria, close to Israeli border

Read this article in:

An unusual late-night rocket attack near the city of Safed in northern Israel ignited forest fires and damaged the local power grid, Israeli media reported on Friday morning.

Around 1 a.m. on Friday, Hezbollah launched a volley of some 20 rockets at the area. “Most of them were successfully intercepted, while the rest fell in open areas. There were no casualties,” the IDF stated in the morning.

צפת הלילה pic.twitter.com/HbDIicHOfh
— יוסי יהושוע - Yossi Yehoshua (@YehoshuaYosi) September 13, 2024

The army added that sirens were activated near Safed to warn residents about the danger of falling shrapnel from the IDF's interceptions. Some fragments fell in the Biriya Forest near Safed, damaging power lines and igniting forest fires.

An Israeli fire brigade commander told Ynet News: “This is an extensive fire in the Biriya Forest that spread on several fronts along complex terrain. The firefighters were deployed in the area and protected nearby buildings while simultaneously working to control the fire. KKL-JNF, the Israel Police, the IDF and the local authorities assisted the fire crews and after a few hours, we brought the incident under control.”

שריפה פרצה ביער ביריה, סמוך לצפת, עקב המטח האחרון לאזור
(אורלי אלקלעי)
צילום: כבאות והצלה לישראל pic.twitter.com/ENhNsheBXT
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) September 12, 2024

The Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the rocket barrage, stating the target was an IDF air defense base and was launched in retaliation for a previous Israeli strike

Israel's KAN News also reported that a building in nearby Moshav Dalton suffered minor shrapnel damage.

I have a few minutes so I will update.

I was out on the path in the forest near my home. Praying.

All of the sudden the Iron Dome started firing around me. From multiple locations.

I started running towards a large water drainage that I knew that was nearby. But shrapnel…
— Netanel Worthy - נתנאל וורתי (@NetanelWorthy) September 12, 2024

A resident described on 𝕏 how he was surprised by the attack while walking in the forest and suffered light injuries amid the falling shrapnel.

Later on Friday, several warning sirens were activated across the Upper Galilee.

The IDF reported a drone exploding in an open area without causing casualties. Around the same time, two rockets that were launched toward the area of Misgav Am were intercepted, while another rocket that was fired toward Snir landed in an open area.

A Hezbollah drone is seen over northern Israel as sirens sound in Safed and several nearby communities. pic.twitter.com/RXJ9mDWm9I
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) September 13, 2024

On Thursday, the IDF carried out several waves of airstrikes in response to Hezbollah attacks targeting northern Israel.

Around midday, Hezbollah launched around 15 rockets at the Western Galilee. Several rockets were not intercepted and exploded near Metzuvah and Mitzpeh Hila, causing no casualties but sparking wildfires. Another rocket fell into Lebanese territory.

The IDF, in response, attacked a military structure near the Marun al-Ras area, as well as a rocket launcher near Majdal Zoun that "posed a threat to the citizens of the State of Israel," according to the army.

במהלך היום מטוסי קרב של חיל האוויר תקפו מבנים צבאיים ששימשו את ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחבים עיתרון, מרמין ושיחין שבדרום לבנון.

כמו כן, כלי טיס תקפו משגר של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחב זבקין שבדרום לבנון אשר בוצעו ממנו שיגורים לעבר שטח מדינת ישראל בעבר pic.twitter.com/p3xrnzFYp5
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) September 12, 2024

Shortly after, a Hezbollah drone was intercepted, while several others exploded near Keren Naftali.

On Thursday evening, the IDF said it attacked more military buildings used by Hezbollah in the areas including Aitaroun, Marmine, and Shehine in southern Lebanon. In addition, a rocket launcher used in earlier attacks against Israel was struck near Zabkine.

The IDF also took responsibility for two strikes in southern Syria, close to Israel's northern border.

Israel is reported to carry out regular strikes against Hezbollah terrorists and members of other Iranian-backed militias in Syria, but usually without confirming its activities.

The army said an aircraft struck the terrorist Ahmad al-Jaber near the town of Quneitra. According to the IDF, al-Jaber was a member of the “Golan File” unit affiliated with Hezbollah forces in Syria.

An additional Israeli operation in the area of Rafeed targeted another terrorist “who advanced terrorist acts against the State of Israel and acted with the cooperation and direction of Iran,” the IDF stated.