Hezbollah Hurfeish strike kills one Israeli soldier, injures several

An Israeli drone targeted a motorbike in the southern Lebanese border town of Aitaroun on Thursday. This action is part of Israel’s recent escalation in targeting Hezbollah fighters and allied militants in vehicles in southern Lebanon.

Overnight, the Israeli army conducted airstrikes on several southern towns, including al-Odaisseh, Wadi Jilo in the Tyre District, and the outskirts of Siddiqin and Adshit. Additionally, artillery fire hit al-Abbasieh, al-Wazzani, and the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab.

Following the drone strike in Aitaroun, Hezbollah retaliated by targeting the Biranit barracks in northern Israel and announced the death of one of its soldiers. Earlier in the day, Hezbollah had attacked an Israeli post in the occupied Kfarshouba Heights. This was a continuation of their previous day’s activities, where they conducted 10 attacks on Israeli positions, including the use of suicide drones.

The Israeli military reported on Thursday that a soldier was killed in a Hezbollah drone attack in the town of Hurfeish in northern Israel. The soldier, identified as Staff Sergeant Refael Kauders, 39, died on Wednesday following the launch of two explosive drones from Lebanon targeting Hurfeish. The attack also resulted in injuries to nine other troops, one of whom was seriously wounded.

In response to these escalations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Wednesday that Israel is “prepared for a very intense operation” along the Lebanese border. Since the conflict with Hezbollah began, following the outbreak of war with Hamas in Gaza on October 7, at least 15 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed on the Israeli side, according to the military. The violence in Lebanon has resulted in at least 455 deaths, mostly fighters but including 88 civilians, based on an AFP tally.