In an alarming escalation of hostilities, northern Israel endured its most severe Hezbollah onslaught since the Gaza conflict erupted, coinciding with Hamas's blatant dismissal of the latest U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal. As Israelis gathered to celebrate the sacred holiday of Shavuot, Hezbollah unleashed a staggering 200 rockets upon northern communities, shattering previous records, even surpassing the intense bombardments of the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
The Israeli Air Force responded decisively, executing a precision strike on a significant Hezbollah command center in southern Lebanon, eliminating one of the group's top leaders, Sami Taleb Abdullah. Abdullah, a notorious figure with a long history of orchestrating attacks on Israeli civilians, met his end in this strategic operation.
BREAKING: A massive wildfire has spread in northern Israel, possibly due to interceptions of rockets half an hour ago.
ā Vivid.š®š± (@VividProwess) June 12, 2024
Approximately 200 rockets have been fired by Hezbollah toward Israeli civilians today alone.
What the hell are we waiting for?
Hezbollah must be destroyed. pic.twitter.com/eiKDuSpPrA
In Beirut's Hezbollah-dominated southern suburbs, a funeral procession for Abdullah saw senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine vow a ferocious retaliation. Safieddine's fiery rhetoric promised an escalation in the scope and ferocity of Hezbollah's attacks on Israel, declaring, "Our definitive and inevitable response to this foolish act will be a dramatic increase in the intensity, strength, quantity, and quality of our operations."
Safieddine ominously warned, "If the Israelis are crying about what happens to them in the north, they should prepare to wail and weep soon." This chilling threat underscored Hezbollah's resolve to intensify their aggressive campaign.
Hachem Safieddine , Hezbollah Senior and Nasrallah's counsin in his eulogy today :
ā Mo Ghaoui (@moghaoui) June 12, 2024
"expect us in the field"
"If Israel is screaming and groaning about what happened to it in northern Palestine, then it should prepare itself for crying and wailing" pic.twitter.com/4ZvL3SGd8W
The late-night Israeli strike in Jouaiyya on Tuesday claimed the lives of three additional Hezbollah fighters, alongside Abdullah. The attack was a significant blow to the group, which confirmed the casualties and vowed retaliation. Hezbollah reported at least 17 operations against Israel on Wednesday alone, including precision-guided missile strikes on an Israeli military factory and key military headquarters in Ein Zeitim and Ami'ad. An Israeli military air surveillance station in Meron also came under attack.
Abdullah, a high-ranking Hezbollah commander, was regarded as senior to Wissam Tawil, another prominent Hezbollah figure eliminated by Israeli forces in January. The Palestinian militant group Hamas, in a statement, hailed Abdullah as a "great leader" and extended condolences.
Sami Taleb Abdullah, Hezbollah commander of the Nasr Unit has been spectacularly eliminated along with 3 of his buddies inside the command and control center in the area of Jouaiyya in southern Lebanon.
ā The Mossad: Satirical, Yet Awesome (@TheMossadIL) June 12, 2024
Count the secondary explosions. pic.twitter.com/3RcV2QXxGZ
Israeli strikes have decimated Hezbollah's ranks, with an estimated 300 fighters killed in Lebanon, surpassing the group's losses during the 2006 conflict. A Reuters tally indicates around 80 civilian casualties amidst the relentless Israeli bombardment. In contrast, attacks from Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of 18 Israeli soldiers and 10 civilians, according to official Israeli sources.
The Israeli military claims it has neutralized over 320 Hezbollah members, including at least 100 high-value targets identified through precise intelligence operations. The relentless barrage on northern Israel by Hezbollah, in solidarity with its Iranian proxy Hamas, continues unabated since the devastating October 7th attack launched by Hamas.
ā Era Gigman (@idan_bg) June 12, 2024
As tensions escalate, the prospect of a broader regional conflict looms ominously, with both sides preparing for an intensified and prolonged confrontation.
