A Hezbollah drone strike on an Israeli army base in central Israel on Sunday resulted in the deaths of four soldiers and left seven others severely injured, according to the Israeli military. This marks the deadliest assault by the militant group since Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon nearly two weeks ago.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack near Binyamina, stating it was retaliation for Israeli airstrikes in Beirut that killed 22 people on Thursday. The group said its operation targeted Israel’s elite Golani brigade and involved launching numerous missiles to overwhelm Israeli air defense systems, while drone "squadrons" were deployed to strike the base.
Israel's national rescue service reported that 61 people were wounded in the attack, a high number considering the country's advanced air-defense systems. This ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has intensified, with both sides exchanging fire almost daily.
The U.S. is now deepening its involvement by sending a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system to Israel. U.S. President Joe Biden approved the deployment, citing the need to protect Israel amidst growing regional tensions. Pentagon officials noted that the system would support Israel's defenses and safeguard U.S. personnel from threats by Iran and its allies. The deployment of the THAAD system, which requires approximately 100 troops to operate, comes at a time when Israeli officials are weighing a response to missile attacks from Tehran.
In a statement, Hezbollah described the Binyamina attack as a complex operation, utilizing both missile strikes and drones to evade Israeli defenses. The drones, some being used for the first time, reportedly struck key areas within the army base, causing significant damage.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high in Lebanon, with the UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, reporting that Israeli tanks had destroyed a gate and entered one of their bases. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the incident, reiterating that attacks on peacekeepers could constitute war crimes. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the withdrawal of UNIFIL troops from Hezbollah-controlled areas.
Inside Gaza, Israeli tank shelling on Sunday killed at least 20 civilians, including children, at a school sheltering displaced Palestinians, as the conflict continues to escalate across multiple fronts.
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