40-rocket Hezbollah barrage rains on Safed after Israel kills senior drone operative in Lebanon

IAF commander: Complete solution is 'attacking the enemy in his territory'

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Hezbollah forces in Lebanon launched a volley of approximately 40 rockets toward the Israeli town of Safed in the Upper Galilee on Thursday evening, following a relative lull over the past few days.

The terror group claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that it was a response to earlier Israeli strikes, one of which killed a senior operative of Hezbollah’s drone unit.

Israel Defense Forces stated it was able to intercept most of the rockets fired at Safed and nearby communities, however, the police later reported some property damage and that several small fires broke out in the aftermath of the attack. Israeli media reported that the electricity was knocked out in several locations near Safed for several hours.

Earlier on Thursday, two Hezbollah drones infiltrated the Western Galilee, striking near Rosh Hanikra, on the northern Mediterranean coast. According to the IDF, there were no injuries and Hezbollah was targeting an Israeli Navy base.

In addition to earlier airstrikes in Nabatiyeh and Sohnmour, where the drone operative was killed, the IDF said it attacked Hezbollah targets in Khoula, Aitaroun, and during the night in al-Adaisa and al-Khiam.

According to reports, Hezbollah Sec.-Gen. Hassan Nasrallah met with the head of Al-Jama’a al-Islamiya, Muhammad Takush.

Despite being a Sunni Islamist organization that is ideologically closer to Hamas, Al-Jama’a al-Islamiya terrorists have been actively assisting Hezbollah in its attacks against Israel and several of its operatives have been eliminated so far.

Nasrallah and Takush reportedly discussed developments in the region and the cooperation of the “resistance forces” to help Hamas in its war against Israel.

During an interview on Thursday with Army Radio, the commander of the Israeli Hatzerim Air Base, Brig.-Gen. Guy Davidson, was asked if the Israeli Air Force (IAF) had enough munitions for a possible full-out war with Hezbollah forces.

“Yes, full stop,” Davidson replied. “The ‘war economy’ and the resources for the war is a topic we are dealing with since October 7.”

“We defined red lines for each step. I am aware of the discussions about delaying one shipment or another, but we have the armaments for the missions that are needed and within that, also for a multi-arena war against Hezbollah and against Iran,” he noted.

The same day, IAF Commander Maj.-Gen. Tomer Bar warned, “Hamas in Gaza will be defeated soon, we are ready to face Hezbollah in the north.”

Speaking at a graduation ceremony for IAF pilots, Bar stressed: “We have the means and capabilities, and we certainly have the fighting spirit.”

“The real solution to the problem is an attack on Hezbollah and not just defensive solutions. The continuous protection of all our borders is demanding and challenging. Day by day we see progress in the overall response. A strong defense is a precondition, attacking the enemy in his territory, that is the complete solution.”