US citizen, IDF soldier among four wounded in Hezbollah retaliatory strikes after IDF kills senior operative
US citizen's condition given as 'serious,' was sedated and ventilated in hospital
An Israeli farmer, an American citizen, an IDF soldier and another Israeli citizen were wounded by several barrages totaling some 60 rockets and at least one anti-tank missile launched by Hezbollah in response to the killing of a senior operative yesterday evening.
In the morning, Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service reported its staff treated a man wounded by shrapnel near an agricultural field near Kfar Zeitim. The 28-year-old farmer was taken to the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya for treatment.
The IDF announced that approximately 20 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon toward the Lower Galilee, some of which were intercepted by the IDF Aerial Defense Array.
The Hezbollah terror group took responsibility for the attack, claiming they fired “dozens of Katyusha rockets at the Nimra Base, west of Tiberias.”
Earlier in the morning, sirens sounded in the area of Ramot Naftali in northern Israel and the IDF reported successfully intercepting a suspicious aerial target. No injuries or damage were reported in that incident.
In the afternoon, Hezbollah fired another 40 rockets at the IDF's aerial control base on Mount Meron, without causing casualties or damage.
Weekend Update July 5-7, 2024, 02:00 pm - Northern Arena
— Israel-Alma (@Israel_Alma_org) July 7, 2024
1. In the past 72 hours, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 19 attacks against Israel, using high-trajectory fire (including Grad rockets), anti-tank missiles, and suicide UAVs. Read the full daily update:… pic.twitter.com/axy9Fzv79h
Some hours later, the IDF stated that an American citizen was seriously wounded, and an IDF soldier and an Israeli citizen sustained light injuries, when an anti-tank missiles exploded near them in the Western Galilee, near the town of Zar'it.
While the army said it was investigating why an American citizen was at an army base so close to the border, Ynet News later reported that he apparenty was there to instruct reserve soldiers on how to use tactical drones they had ordered from the company where he is employed.
The report added that his condition was serious, and he was sedated and ventilated upon arrival at the hospital.
The Hezbollah attacks followed an Israeli Air Force (IAF) strike, eliminating Hezbollah terrorist Meitham Mustafa Altaar near Baalbek, Lebanon on Saturday evening. Meitham was a key operative in Hezbollah's Aerial Defense Unit, according to the IDF.
🔴ELIMINATED: Meitham Mustafa Altaar, key operative in Hezbollah's Aerial Defense Unit.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 6, 2024
Meitham led many of the unit's activities and took part in the planning and carrying out of numerous terrorist attacks against Israelis. Meitham also flew to Iran multiple times, where he…
The IDF Spokesman’s office stated, “Meitham led many of the unit's activities and took part in the planning and carrying out of numerous terror attacks against the State of Israel.”
According to the statement, Meitham had flown to Iran multiple times, "where he gained knowledge and assisted in building up the Hezbollah terrorist organization’s force and arsenal of Iranian weapons.”
Following the strike, the IAF released a statement stating: "The Air Force will continue to operate where necessary, including in Lebanese skies, to remove a threat from the residents of the State of Israel and fulfill the IDF's missions.”
Over the past few years, Iran has helped Hezbollah establish an air defense system throughout southern Lebanon, including shoulder-fired missiles and anti-aircraft batteries. Iran has also trained Hezbollah operatives on the use of the anti-aircraft systems, as the terror group tries to counter Israel’s air superiority.
Over the past few weeks, Hezbollah and Israel have seen an increasing number of cross-border, tit-for-tat attacks.
On Thursday, the terror group fired a massive barrage toward northern Israel following the elimination of another senior commander.
On Saturday, two Israeli soldiers were wounded in rocket and drone attacks by Hezbollah, which hit the area of Kiryat Shmona.
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The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
