Deadliest attack since Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon escalates tensions between the two sides

On Sunday, a drone strike by Hezbollah on an Israeli military base in central Israel resulted in the deaths of four soldiers and left seven others critically injured, according to the Israeli military. This incident marks the most deadly assault by the group since the commencement of Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon nearly two weeks ago.

Hezbollah claimed the attack, which occurred near Binyamina, was a response to Israeli airstrikes on Beirut the previous Thursday that resulted in the deaths of 22 individuals. The group asserted that it targeted Israel’s elite Golani Brigade and launched numerous missiles to engage the country’s air defense systems, while drone “squadrons” executed the assault.

Israel’s national rescue service reported a total of 61 injuries from the attack. The high number of casualties is notable given Israel’s sophisticated air-defense systems. Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have escalated, with frequent exchanges of fire since the Gaza conflict began last year.

This attack followed the US announcement of plans to send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system to Israel, along with around 100 troops. This move signifies an increase in US involvement in the region, similar to previous deployments following Hamas’ attacks on Israel in October last year. The THAAD system was last deployed in southern Israel for training exercises in 2019.

US President Joe Biden stated that the decision to deploy the defense system was made to “defend Israel” amidst rising tensions, especially after Iran launched over 180 missiles at Israel on October 1. The US military characterized this deployment as part of a broader strategy to bolster support for Israel and safeguard US personnel against potential threats from Iran and its allied groups.

On Monday, Hezbollah issued a fresh warning, threatening further attacks if Israel’s offensive in Lebanon persists. The group referred to the Binyamina strike as a “complex operation,” which involved launching multiple missiles towards Nahariya and Acre, intending to overwhelm Israeli defense systems.

In addition, drone squadrons, including some previously unseen models, managed to evade Israeli air defenses and strike the Binyamina training camp, leading to significant casualties.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned attacks that injured UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, following reports that Israeli tanks had destroyed a gate and forcibly entered a UN base in southern Lebanon. According to spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, UN peacekeepers remain stationed at all positions under the UN flag.

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