Hezbollah claims to have fired 200 rockets in massive barrage after alleged Israeli assassination – www.israelhayom.com

As the Israeli conflict entered its 272nd day, the northern regions of the country faced persistent alerts and multiple drone incursions, some of which were successfully intercepted as Hezbollah responded to Israel's killing of one of its top operatives, Muhammad Neamah Naser, the most senior Hezbollah official killed to date in the 8-month conflict.

A source within Hezbollah, speaking to Al Jazeeramade a striking statement about the scale of their recent attack on northern Israel. According to the source, “we launched rockets towards IDF outposts and the Nafha base. Rockets were fired towards the headquarters of the 7th Armored Brigade. More than 200 rockets of different types were fired at different sites in the Galilee and the Golan.”

The massive bombardment coincided with a day of constant alerts in large areas of northern Israel. Israeli authorities confirmed several incidents of fires in open areas of the Golan Heights and the Upper Galilee, which they attributed to intensive rocket fire.

Video: Rockets rain down on Israel on Thursday, July 4, 2024

Throughout the day, alerts were sounded in many northern locations, including Kiryat Shmona, Kfar Blum, and then Nahariya, Acre and Ein HaMifratz. In Acre, debris from interceptors fell on the roof of a local shopping mall, causing minor structural damage. Two people were reportedly lightly injured in the shooting and were evacuated for medical treatment.

According to the Israeli military, Wednesday's Israeli strike eliminated terrorist Muhammad Neamah Naser, “the commander of the Aziz unit of the Hezbollah terrorist organization, responsible for firing from southwest Lebanon into Israeli territory.” The military said, “Muhammad Neamah Naser assumed his duties in 2016 and directed the firing of rockets and anti-tank missiles from southwest Lebanon against Israeli civilians, communities, and security forces. In addition, Naser led a large number of terrorist attacks against Israel during and before the war, and he previously held several central roles within the Hezbollah terrorist organization. Naser was the counterpart of Sami Taleb Abdullah, the commander of the Nasser unit, who was eliminated last month. Together, they were two of Hezbollah's most senior terrorists in southern Lebanon.”

The Israeli military responded to the threats by reporting successful interceptions of projectiles. Overnight, Israeli fighter jets reportedly attacked several Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including a military structure in the Shihin area and three described as “terrorist infrastructures” in the Blat area.

The escalation comes as diplomatic efforts continue to resolve the broader conflict. Hamas officials have reported ongoing negotiations with Qatari and Egyptian mediators toward a ceasefire agreement. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to hold an initial discussion on Hamas’s response to the proposed deal and is expected to meet with President Joe Biden later in the day.