Overnight barrage of 100 rockets by Hezbollah leaves tens of thousands Israelis ‘scared and frustrated’

Residents slam 'routine of ignoring the situation in the north and its residents'

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Residents of northern Israel again expressed outrage and frustration after several Hezbollah rocket attacks overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday robbed them of their sleep and feeling of security.

The Lebanese terror organization claimed to have launched its rare late-night rocket attacks as retaliation after Israeli strikes allegedly killed two civilians and three children in southern Lebanon. The IDF had said earlier that it struck a Hezbollah cell in the area where the children were allegedly killed.

The rocket barrages first targeted the Western Galilee, with 10 rockets falling in open areas. Then, 20 more rockets were launched at Kiryat Shmona, causing some material damage.

Numerous Iron Dome interceptions seen over the Mount Meron area, following a barrage launched from Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/I5Nusb5J7z
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) July 16, 2024

Around 20 to 30 rockets were fired toward the area of Mount Meron, the location of a strategic IDF radar station and a frequent target of Hezbollah. The IDF said several rockets were intercepted, while others fell in open areas and ignited wildfires.

A final volley of some 15-20 rockets was launched around 2:30 a.m. at communities in the Western Galilee region, of which several were intercepted. The IDF reported no injuries as a result of the rocket attacks.

On Wednesday morning, residents of northern Israel reiterated their calls to the Israeli government to take action and change the situation in the country’s north.

The “Fighting for the North” headquarters representing evacuated residents of Kiryat Shmona stated: “We see here a continuation of a routine of ignoring the situation in the north and its residents. The north is part of the State of Israel, and it’s time to come to your senses and start a campaign in the north. We won’t agree to be sitting ducks on a shooting range.”

Dudu Strol, who lives in Kiryat Shmona and is the owner of a moving company, told Ynet News that a rocket only narrowly missed him.

“I was at home and there were a lot of loud explosions. A good friend called me and said there was a rocket impact next to my delivery truck. I went downstairs and as soon as I arrived the alarms started again and again, lots of impacts… A rocket fell about 50 meters from us.”

Shlomo Salem, a member of the Shlomi City Council and one of the leaders of “Fighting for the North” said: “Thousands of residents are under an unprecedented attack, children and parents in shelters are shaking, scared and frustrated. How long will the policy of containment last?”

“We demand a serious and powerful attack that will shake the whole of Lebanon, and call on the Prime Minister to respond in a way that has not been seen since the first Lebanon war, and to destroy the Hezbollah organization,” Salem said.

Residents also said the Israeli military's reaction was not aggressive enough.

מטוסי קרב של חיל האוויר תקפו במהלך הלילה תשתיות טרור של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחבים יארין, עייתא א-שעב ועלמא א-שעב שבדרום לבנון.

בנוסף, צה"ל ביצע ירי ארטילרי להסרת איום במרחב מג'דל זון>> pic.twitter.com/Jz7FzKPrRJ
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) July 17, 2024

After the Hezbollah attacks began, the IDF said aircraft struck one of the launchers used in the attacks on Kiryat Shmona, as well as a terror cell in the Yarine area.

On Wednesday morning, the military said fighter jets struck Hezbollah targets in Yarine, Ayta al-Sha’ab, and Alma al-Sha’ab overnight.

צה"ל תקף באמצעות כלי טיס של חיל האוויר שני מחבלים מארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחב אל-מנצורי שבדרום לבנון.
המחבלים הותקפו לאחר שזוהו בורחים מהמרחב ממנו בוצעו אמש השיגורים לקריית שמונה.

כמו כן, כוחות צה"ל תקפו בארטילריה בכפר כילא, דיר מימס ועייתא א-שעב שבדרום לבנון pic.twitter.com/g02LQAN1rj
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) July 16, 2024

Earlier on Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike hit two terrorists in al-Mansouri who were spotted while leaving the launch area used in an earlier attack on Kiryat Shmona.