A Hezbollah drone attack on an Israeli army base near Binyamina killed four soldiers on Sunday, marking the deadliest strike by the militant group since Israel’s ground invasion of Lebanon began two weeks ago.
Hezbollah claimed the attack was in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Beirut last Thursday that killed 22.
The militant group also said it targeted Israel’s elite Golani brigade, launching numerous missiles to overwhelm Israeli air defence systems during the drone assault. The effectiveness of the attack, despite Israel’s advanced air defence capabilities, was unusual. Israel’s national rescue service said the attack wounded 61.
The attack coincided with news of the United States deploying a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) missile defence battery to Israel, along with approximately 100 US troops. This move deepens American involvement in the region.
US President Joe Biden, when asked about authorising the deployment, stated: “To defend Israel”. The decision comes as Israel considers potential retaliation against Iran following Tehran’s missile attack on 1 October.
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, cautioned that the US was endangering its troops by deploying them to operate missile systems in Israel. He posted on social media: “While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests.”
Hezbollah has threatened further attacks if Israel’s offensive in Lebanon continues. The group described the Binyamina operation as “complex”, involving multiple missile launches and drone squadrons, some allegedly evading Israeli air defences.
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (Unifil) reported that Israeli tanks had forcibly entered one of its bases in southern Lebanon. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned attacks that have injured peacekeepers, emphasising that such actions may constitute war crimes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the withdrawal of Unifil troops from areas he described as “Hezbollah strongholds and combat zones”, citing concerns about their safety.
In Gaza, Israeli tank shelling reportedly killed at least 20 people, including children, at a school in Nuseirat on Sunday night. The school was sheltering displaced Palestinians. Early Monday, explosions were reported near Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah.
Another night of horror in the #Gaza Strip.
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 14, 2024
A strike hit a hospital courtyard, burning the tents where people were sleeping. Just before this, an @UNRWA school sheltering families was hit in Nuseirat.
That same school was going to be used as a #polio vaccination site today. pic.twitter.com/EZt07HuKol
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