Aftermath of IDF strikes in southern Lebanon
The IDF reported Wednesday afternoon that Israeli fighter jets struck a series of Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including some belonging to the terrorist group's elite Radwan force, in response to an earlier rocket attack that killed a woman and injured eight others in northern Israel.
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The army said that it attacked targets in the areas of Jabal el Braij, Houneh, Dunin, Aadchit and Souaneh, among them "military compounds, operational control rooms and terror infrastructure used by Hezbollah terrorists."
Ali Shuaib, a reporter for the Hezbollah-affiliated Al Manar network, reported earlier that a woman and two children were killed in an attack in Souaneh, and another person was killed and nine others were injured in an attack in Aadchit.
So far, the IDF has responded to Hezbollah's rocket fire toward northern Israel moderately, primarily striking the sources of fire and various targets belonging to the terrorist organization in southern Lebanon.
Earlier on Wednesday, the IDF confirmed that rocket fire from Lebanon also hit a military base in northern Israel. Ynet has learned that some of the rockets targeted the IDF Northern Command base in Safed. According to Arab reports, some rockets also targeted the Israeli Air Force base in Meron.
"Numerous launches were identified crossing from Lebanon into the areas of Netu'a, Manara, and into an IDF base in northern Israel. The IDF struck the sources of the fire," the military said in a statement.
Rocket landing in Safed
"The red line has turned into a white flag - the War Cabinet has surrendered to Hezbollah and lost the north," Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Liberman posted on X after the attack.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that his office had appealed to the Prime Minister's Office to hold a meeting between the two as soon as possible following the escalation in the north, and tweeted "This is not an escalation, this is war."
Safed Mayor Shuki Ochana told Ynet, "There are protected spaces, we'll act according to the guidelines we know. We will assess the situation, and see how things progress. It's not rare to hear sirens in the area. We're ready and are fully prepared."
The escalations in northern Israel come against the backdrop of reports of an imminent political agreement on the northern border. Arab media reported Tuesday of progress in negotiations to end the fighting between Israel and Hamas.
A European official told Saudi television channel Al-Hadath that "there is significant progress in negotiations for the implementation of UN Resolution 1701 in Lebanon." Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati added, "The situation in southern Lebanon still requires caution, but things are moving toward long-term stability. We're seeking security, peace, and enduring stability in the south."
On Tuesday, France delivered a written proposal to Beirut aimed at ending hostilities with Israel and settling the disputed Lebanon-Israel frontier, according to a document seen by Reuters that calls for fighters including Hezbollah's elite unit to withdraw 10 km (6 miles) from the border.
The three-step plan envisages a 10-day process of de-escalation ending with the border negotiations. One French diplomatic source said the proposal had been put to the governments of Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah. France has historical ties with Lebanon. It has 20,000 citizens in the country and some 800 troops as part of a UN peacekeeping force.
First published: 14:06, 02.14.24