Hezbollah rocket barrage forces over 100,000 Israelis into bomb shelters, injuring 2 people and causing fires and damage

The Lebanese terror organization Hezbollah carried out an almost non-stop bombardment of northern Israel on Sunday after the Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck a compound in Baalbek in northern Lebanon on Saturday evening in retaliation for Hezbollah shooting down an Israeli drone earlier that day.

The attacks on Sunday included about 40 rockets in several barrages, as well as numerous drone launches. According to reports, two Israelis were lightly injured in Kiryat Shmona, and numerous buildings across northern Israel were damaged, resulting in fires in the Golan Heights.

A rocket launched from Lebanon struck Kiryat Shmona's industrial zone a short while ago, lightly wounding two people, the municipality says.

Additional rockets hit other areas in the city. pic.twitter.com/pI9JNcuvQ1

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 2, 2024

The day began with alarm sirens sounding across the Upper Galilee and Golan Heights.

Israel Defense Forces later said they were activated due to drones that infiltrated Israeli territory and could not be intercepted.

The drones exploded in open areas, causing a fire that was quickly extinguished.

Several Iron Dome interceptions seen over the Margaliot area in northern Israel. pic.twitter.com/9rlBVQo9yr

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 2, 2024

Several hours later, eight rockets were intercepted in the area of the town of Margaliot.

Some hours after that, simultaneous attacks in the Western Galilee and Golan Heights forced some 100,000 Israelis to seek shelter, including the areas of Nahariya, Acre and Katzrin.

Suspected drone infiltration sirens expand to Acre pic.twitter.com/GOiPakAxdv

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 2, 2024

Two drones penetrated the IDF’s air defense system and exploded in open areas in the areas of Nahariya and Acre.

At the same time, around 15 rockets were launched toward the town of Katzrin, causing several fires.

Major fire near Katzrin in the Golan Heights following a rocket barrage fired from Lebanon. https://t.co/OdXwpeEbcW pic.twitter.com/nNkRNXSwiK

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 2, 2024

Hours later, two anti-tank missiles hit a building in the town of Metula, which lies directly on Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where hundreds of buildings have been destroyed so far.

Another barrage of about 15 rockets was fired toward Kiryat Shmona and intercepted by the IDF’s Iron Dome missile defense system. Army Radio reported that two people were slightly wounded by shrapnel from the interceptions.

Later in the evening, additional salvos were fired at Nahariya.

Interceptor fired a short time ago in Nahariya during a warning for a possible drone infiltration . pic.twitter.com/5g0H76fnrY

— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) June 2, 2024

On Sunday, Army Radio’s military correspondent Doron Kadosh pointed out the worrying increase in drones that the IDF has failed to intercept in recent weeks.

“This time too, interceptors were launched at the drones, but they failed to intercept them, as also happened this morning when two UAVs penetrated the Kiryat Shmona area and were not intercepted despite the attempts,” said Kadosh.

“The entire security system is working to formulate technological and defensive solutions against Hezbollah's drone challenge, and there are solutions that are being worked on these very days,” he added.

חטיבת האש של אוגדה 91 בשיתוף חיל האוויר זיהתה היום באמצעות כלי טיס מחבל נכנס למחסן אמצעי לחימה של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחב מיס אל ג׳בל שבדרום לבנון. זמן קצר לאחר מכן, מטוסי קרב תקפו את מחסן האמל״ח בו שהה המחבל>> pic.twitter.com/u8i2J8kiDO

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) June 2, 2024

Late on Saturday evening, the IDF announced it had attacked a Hezbollah compound in the Baalbek area. This action was consistent with its previous responses when Hezbollah shot down Israeli drones, targeting compounds used by Hezbollah’s aerial array deep inside the country.

On Sunday afternoon, the Israeli army said that troops identified a terrorist entering a weapons warehouse in the town of Mais al-Jabal. Shortly after, IAF fighter jets struck the warehouse.

בתגובה להפלת כטמ"ם צה"ל שפעל בשמי לבנון על ידי טיל קרקע אוויר של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה, מטוסי קרב של חיל האוויר תקפו מתחם צבאי המשמש את ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחב בקעא>> pic.twitter.com/Hpf0DmBqoh

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) June 2, 2024

In addition, the compound used by Hezbollah to shoot rockets at Margaliot was destroyed.

On Sunday, the Alma Research Center published its latest monthly report revealing that the Hezbollah terror group launched 325 attacks toward Israel last month - an average of around 10 attacks per day, according to the report.

May 2024 is the month with the highest intensity of #Hezbollah attacks against Israel since October 2023. Throughout May 2024, Hezbollah carried out 325 attacks. Read the full article: https://t.co/3vsqUFbJpo

— Israel-Alma (@Israel_Alma_org) June 2, 2024

In April, the terror group launched 238 attacks against Israel. It also roughly doubled the number of attacks using anti-tank missiles and drones.

Since the beginning of the war, Hezbollah has carried out 1,964 attacks on Israel’s northern border, of which 46% targeted infrastructure and civilian areas.