A soldier was killed in southern Lebanon on Friday as Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) continued their offensive against Hezbollah. The soldier, identified as Sgt. Ori Nisanovich, 21, of the Golani Brigade, was killed in an exchange of fire with a Hezbollah gunman in a village in southern Lebanon. His death brings the total number of IDF casualties to 44 since the start of the ground operation.
On the Israeli side, multiple rocket barrages were fired at northern Israel on Saturday, including a barrage of 10 rockets targeting Haifa. While some rockets were intercepted, others struck the city, causing damage to a synagogue and injuring five people who were running for shelter. In addition, several drones were intercepted in the city of Nahariya.
The IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, vowed to continue the assault on Hezbollah until displaced residents in northern Israel can safely return to their homes. He described Hezbollah as having paid a heavy price with its chain of command collapsed and its infrastructure destroyed. The IDF also reported reaching its deepest point in southern Lebanon since the operation began, capturing a strategic hill in the village of Shama, before later retreating after heavy clashes with Hezbollah forces.
Israeli warplanes carried out multiple airstrikes, targeting Hezbollah assets in southern Beirut and the port city of Tyre. The IDF said that it had struck about 50 Hezbollah sites in Beirut’s southern suburbs, including weapon depots and command centers.
The conflict also saw Israeli airstrikes in Syria, killing two senior Islamic Jihad figures, Abdel Aziz Minawi and Rasmi Abu Issa, in a targeted strike on the outskirts of Damascus.
Meanwhile, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that a live artillery shell had struck its headquarters in Shama, though it did not detonate. No injuries were reported, and the situation was swiftly handled by Italian bomb disposal experts.
Despite the ongoing violence, Israel has said its military operations are aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s infrastructure and neutralizing its threat. The situation remains volatile, with airstrikes continuing and the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensifying.