Rocket interceptions over northern Israel
(Video: United Hatzalah Carmel, Kfir Bazak)
Dozens of sirens warning of rocket and missile fire sounded early Sunday across northern Israel, including in Afula, Nof Hagalil, Nazareth, Kiryat Tivon, Yokneam, Mishmar HaEmek, Ramat Yishai and the Jezreel Valley,
Explosions were heard in Acre, Haifa and the Haifa Bay area, and air defense interceptor missiles were seen over Nazareth. The IDF said that "approximately 10 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory. Most of the projectiles were intercepted and a fallen projectile was identified in the area."
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it targeted the Israeli Air Force’s main northern facility, Ramat David Air Base, with "dozens of Fadi-1 and Fadi-2 rockets." The Iran-backed group said the attack was in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon, which it claimed caused numerous civilian casualties. This marks its deepest strike into Israel since October 7.
In July, Hezbollah released drone footage showing Ramat David Air Base, which is located about 30 miles from the Lebanese border.
According to the Lebanese terror group, the footage was taken the day before by its Hudhud drone, which has previously filmed in Haifa Bay and bases in the Golan Heights.
In the nine-minute clip, Hezbollah identifies various facilities visible in the footage, including fuel tanks for aircraft, the headquarters of the 109th Squadron, an Iron Dome air defense platform, ammunition depots, the headquarters of the 157th Squadron, hangars and the headquarters of the 105th Squadron.
The group also published a photo of the base commander's office, allegedly revealing his personal details and noting that he began his role in July 2022. Additional footage showed other warehouses and headquarters of the 101st and 160th Squadrons, as well as the technical area of the 193rd Squadron.
The video also includes images purportedly taken on July 9, featuring Apache helicopters, fuel storage and Hercules aircraft.
Meanwhile, the pro-Hezbollah Lebanese network Al Mayadeen reported Israeli airstrikes in Deir Siriane in southern Lebanon.
In some communities, which had not been included in the Home Front Command guidelines issued Saturday night—applicable from Haifa and further north—sirens were activated for the first time since the start of the war.
A man in his 60s sustained minor injuries in the Lower Galilee after he was reportedly grazed by shrapnel from an interceptor missile. Magen David Adom ambulance service paramedics transported him to the English Hospital in Nazareth.
Earlier, The IDF executed a series of airstrikes late Saturday across southern Lebanon with reports within the country saying at least 80 targets were hit aimed at least 400 of Hezbollah’s munition launchers. The terror group’s weapons caches were also targeted, with explosions and smoke seen across the country.
Meanwhile, the IDF Home Front Command has updated its guidelines to all Israeli communities located from Hadera northward, including Haifa and Safed, ordering municipalities to limit gatherings and stay close to safe rooms when possible amid fears of Hezbollah attacking as soon as Sunday.
Against this background, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday is holding a situation assessment alongside Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other officials and ministers including IDF Chief of Staff LTG Herzi Halevi.
IDF strikes 290 terror targets in southern Lebanon, destroying thousands of rockets
(Video: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
Israel is on high alert, as evidenced by a video released by the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit on Saturday showing Israeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar said forces are at “the highest level of readiness.” Estimations in Jerusalem say Hezbollah will retaliate following the elimination of its senior commanders and hundreds of operatives in Lebanon as soon as Sunday.
Israeli Air Force fighter jets eliminated thousands of Hezbollah munition launchers across southern Lebanon earlier on Saturday, strengthening officials’ estimations a major attack is set to take place against Israel.
Security sources estimate that an attack may take place within the next 24 hours, warning that "we're entering a tense 24 hours." IDF Home Front Command guidelines in the north are also expected to change on Saturday.
"The changes are relevant for the following areas: the Lower Galilee, the Upper Galilee, the Haifa Bay, the Central Galilee, and some of the communities in the southern Golan Heights (Emek Hayarden) in accordance with the situational assessment," the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said in a statement.
The new guidelines prompted northern cities so far untouched by Hezbollah fire or IDF guidelines to change their instruction to residents including Haifa and Acre.
Haifa will hold schools in limited frontal learning “that will allow students to reach a safe room within one minute.” Other schools and classes will be taught remotely according to the municipality.
Acre on the other hand has instructed schools to be shut down for the next 24 hours and will be moving to remote learning exclusively. “We prefer to take severe measures and not to risk students,” the municipality said in a statement.
The guidelines also include communities such as Mateh Asher, Kiryat Ata, Kiryat Motzkin, Nesher and the Kinneret Cities Association who decided to limit studies in schools for the foreseeable period.
The coming days are expected to significantly shape the trajectory of the conflict with Hezbollah and determine its potential expansion to an all-out war. Israel believes Hezbollah will escalate the scope of its attacks in the next 24 hours and could possibly use even harsher measures following so.
On the other hand, the IDF has taken a different approach in the north in recent days. Israel has been eliminating Hezbollah’s short- and medium-range rocket launchers in its waves of strikes. These strikes aim to diminish Hezbollah's ability to retaliate against Israel but also serve as an opportunity to degrade the terror group’s overall operational capacity.
Israel has developed an impressive intelligence capability against Hezbollah since the Second Lebanon War in 2006. Billions of shekels have been invested in these capabilities and Israel is now reaping the benefits. The northern front has been recently prioritized over progress in Gaza due to the more significant threat posed by Hezbollah.