Hezbollah Drones Strike Northern Israeli Cities, 19 Injured

Jerusalem, 6 August, 2024 (TPS) -- Nineteen Israelis were injured in a barrage of drones launched by Hezbollah at Western Galilee cities.

One drone directly struck a vehicle near the Israeli-Arab village of Mazra’a. The driver, a 40-year-old man, was injured by shrapnel and then collided with a roadside safety fence, Magen David Adom said. The unconscious victim was taken to the Western Galilee Hospital in Nahariya in critical condition with shrapnel injuries to the head.

A 30-year-old woman who was standing nearby was moderately injured by shrapnel in the legs and hospitalized for further treatment.

Sirens were heard in Nahariya, Akko, and other nearby coastal communities.

Hezbollah took responsibility for the attacks saying they were in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike that killed Ali Jamal Aldin in the southern Lebanese area of Ebba. Aldin was a commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force.

The threat of wider war has escalated since the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Iran blames Israel, which has not confirmed or denied responsibility.

Nearly 80,000 Israelis were forced to evacuate their homes near the Lebanon border when Hezbollah began launching rockets and drones in October. Hezbollah leaders have said they will continue the attacks to prevent Israelis from returning to their homes. The attacks have killed 25 civilians and 18 soldiers.

Israeli officials have been calling for Hezbollah to be disarmed and removed from southern Lebanon in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War.