In a resounding act of retaliation, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) delivered a decisive blow to Hezbollah, eliminating a senior official of the terrorist organization following their audacious UAV attack on Israel. The skies over Lebanon lit up as IAF jets struck near Sidon, a bold response to Hezbollah's latest provocation.
On Thursday night, Hezbollah escalated tensions by deploying a new missile-launching drone, targeting an IDF base near Metulla. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) zipped through the night sky, homing in on its target with deadly precision. This brazen attack left one Israeli soldier seriously wounded and two others with minor injuries.
The situation intensified on Friday, when Hezbollah unleashed a barrage of missiles aimed at northern Israel. The IDF confirmed that out of 60 missiles launched, 50 managed to cross into Israeli territory, hitting a base near Golani junction in the Lower Galilee. Most of the missiles landed harmlessly in open areas, but the sheer volume of the assault highlighted the escalating threat.
Senior Hezbollah official killed in southern Lebanon strike, after terror group boasts new UAV: The Israel Air Force (IAF) responded with strikes near Sidon, Lebanon. https://t.co/ZYQFMPThyH JPost pic.twitter.com/XY8vjNENSg
ā Jewish Community (@JComm_NewsFeeds) May 17, 2024
Hezbollah, never shy about flaunting their aggression, released a chilling video on Friday morning showcasing the UAV in action. The footage showed the drone launching multiple S5 missiles, underscoring their growing capability and determination to strike deep into Israeli territory.
In swift retaliation, the IAF launched airstrikes on the village of A-Najaria near Sidon, Lebanon. The target, just tens of kilometers from the Israel-Lebanon border, was pounded with precision strikes, leaving multiple casualties in its wake. Lebanese reports, echoed by Israeli media, confirmed numerous wounded and dead in the aftermath, including Hussein Mahdi, a senior Hezbollah commander.
*INTENSIVE ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES TARGETED HEZBOLLAH SITES IN SIDON, SOUTHERN LEBANON!*
ā Knave Shyster (@knaveshyster) May 17, 2024
*CONFIRMED INFORMATION INDICATES THAT LEADERS OF HEZBOLLAH WERE TARGETED IN THIS AIRSTRIKE.*
Join ISRAEL REALTIME ā "Connecting the World to Israel in Realtime" pic.twitter.com/qTELGeV045
Adding to the chaos, Hezbollah claimed to have deployed kamikaze drones towards an IDF base in Tiberias, northern Israel. While a drone explosion at Golani junction caused significant damage, it thankfully resulted in no casualties, according to sources in Israel's defense ministry.
The conflict took a deadly turn earlier in the week when a top Hezbollah commander, Hussain Mekki, was killed in an IDF drone attack in southern Lebanon. Mekki, a notorious figure responsible for orchestrating attacks on Israeli civilians, met his end in a targeted strike on Tuesday. His demise was seen as a significant blow to Hezbollah, particularly amid the ongoing war against Hamas that erupted on October 7, 2023.
Hezbollah joined this war on October 8.
ā Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) May 17, 2024
It's no longer possible to call this a "low-grade war". Tens of thousands of Israelis are still displaced, and they can't go home - to homes still under fire.
Hezbollah is bragging about attacking Israel with missile-armed drones. pic.twitter.com/3CZVNzYcL1
Hezbollah's latest string of attacks and Israel's resolute response mark a dangerous escalation in the region. As both sides brace for further confrontations, the stakes continue to rise, with each act of aggression pushing the fragile peace further out of reach.
