In a devastating escalation along Israel’s northern front, a young Israeli soldier, Sgt. Ariel Sosnov, tragically lost his life in a Hezbollah rocket attack on the community of Avivim on Wednesday. Sgt. Sosnov, 20, of the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion and a native of Jerusalem, became the 62nd Israeli military casualty in this conflict with Hezbollah, which has seen a steady rise in hostilities since October 2023.
Hezbollah unleashed a barrage of approximately 50 rockets on Avivim, a northern Israeli community near the border. The heavy impact of the assault killed Sosnov and inflicted injuries on three additional Israeli soldiers, who are reported to be in stable condition.
In response to these increasingly aggressive provocations, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched large-scale airstrikes targeting Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs and the Beqaa Valley, marking one of the most extensive operations in recent days. The first series of strikes erupted late Wednesday, while additional waves followed into early Thursday, with notable precision-targeted strikes on infrastructure and launch sites responsible for the continued bombardments of Israeli territory. Some strikes even impacted a location near Lebanon’s main international airport.
May his memory be a blessing!
— Arsen Ostrovsky 🎗️ (@Ostrov_A) November 7, 2024
IDF announces Sgt. Ariel Sosnov Sasonov, 20, of the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion, from Jerusalem, was killed in a Hezbollah rocket barrage on northern Israel yesterday, after 50+ rockets were fired on the border community of Avivim. pic.twitter.com/nwunhBBsXm
Beirut’s Suburbs and Baalbek Under Heavy Assault
Israel’s Air Force hammered Hezbollah positions across Beirut’s southern neighborhoods—areas long regarded as the terror organization’s power base. Lebanese media reports highlighted that at least four powerful airstrikes hit specific Hezbollah facilities in Beirut’s southern suburbs, where previous IDF warnings had instructed the evacuation of civilians. The IDF stated it had targeted nearly 20 sites in northeastern Lebanon, particularly in Baalbek and regions beyond the Litani River.
The assault on Baalbek, famed for its UNESCO-listed Roman ruins, was particularly forceful. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, 40 individuals were reported dead, with an additional 53 wounded in these strikes. This information was not broken down into combatants and civilians. Baalbek’s ancient Roman temples—considered among the largest and most well-preserved relics outside Rome—came dangerously close to damage as missiles reportedly impacted within the temple’s parking lot, drawing concern from heritage preservationists and local officials alike.
Some 60 Hezbollah operatives were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes on some 20 targets in northeastern Lebanon's Baalbek and other areas north of the Litani River, the IDF says.
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) November 7, 2024
Separately, the military says that dozens more Hezbollah targets were struck by the Air Force… pic.twitter.com/KnnOljOgbu
Bachir Khodr, Baalbek’s provincial governor, confirmed this close call on social media, raising concerns that the region’s historic artifacts might be at risk as the conflict intensifies. Video footage from a local resident captured the shock and devastation as plumes of smoke engulfed the area near the revered site, underscoring the war’s potential to destroy irreplaceable cultural landmarks.
Operation in Lebanon: IDF’s Ongoing Mission
As IDF troops from the 91st and 36th Divisions continue ground operations in southern Lebanon, reports confirm substantial Hezbollah losses. IDF statements indicate that over 60 Hezbollah operatives have been killed in airstrikes targeting operational facilities, rocket launch sites, and weapons depots. This surge in operations forms part of Israel’s strategic objective: to neutralize Hezbollah’s offensive capacity and facilitate the eventual return of the estimated 60,000 Israeli residents displaced from the north.
Israeli Air Force - Israeli Air Force fighter jets, directed by Division 36, attacked and eliminated the terrorist Abu Ali Radza, commander of the Hezbollah compound in Barashit. He directed and executed rocket and anti-tank missile fire towards IDF forces and led Hezbollah… https://t.co/MjxMh1w89X
— Irene Rusman (@irusman) November 4, 2024
The IDF, committed to rooting out Hezbollah’s ability to pose an immediate threat, has conducted continuous operations since late September, aimed at eliminating combat capabilities amassed near Israel’s northern borders. This resurgence in violence erupted in tandem with the October 7 Hamas-led massacre in southern Israel, a watershed event that propelled Israel into all-out war with both Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah along the northern front.
Escalating Civilian Toll and Cross-Border Tensions
Hezbollah’s cross-border provocations since October have resulted in the tragic deaths of 41 Israeli civilians. Meanwhile, 62 IDF soldiers have been killed in battles and ground incursions against Hezbollah forces entrenched in southern Lebanon. Adding to the complexity, two additional IDF soldiers lost their lives in a drone assault originating from Iraq, while intermittent skirmishes along Israel’s borders with Syria have posed further security concerns.
⭕️ 18 yeas old Sivan Sade from the village of Masrik was murdered yesterday by a Hezbollah rocket while working in agriculture in the kibbutz fields. Still we don’t hear any condemnation of @antonioguterres secretary general of the @UN Shame ! pic.twitter.com/ptOnQTufuU
— Shmuel Shalom שמואל שלום سمؤال عبد السلام (@ShmuelShalom) November 7, 2024
In Lebanon, the toll from the Israel-Hezbollah confrontation has reached grim new heights, with the Lebanese Health Ministry reporting over 3,000 deaths since the conflict's escalation, although it did not specify how many were Hezbollah combatants versus civilians. IDF estimates place the number of Hezbollah operatives killed at around 3,000, alongside casualties from other armed factions operating within Lebanese territory.
A Dire Warning and a Determined Response
As Hezbollah’s alliance with Iran and support for Gaza continues to fuel attacks against Israel, the IDF is resolute in dismantling the group’s offensive capabilities. The escalating situation not only highlights the peril for civilians on both sides but also the potential threat to Lebanon’s cultural heritage, as ancient relics now lie in the shadow of ongoing airstrikes. Israel’s increased operations underscore its determination to neutralize the Hezbollah threat, paving the way for the safe return of displaced northern residents and reinforcing its stance against regional terror entities.
