IDF intercepts Hezbollah drones over northern Israel, strikes in Lebanon

Hezbollah's rocket supplies have been significantly depleted by IAF strikes over the last few days, an Israeli official told N12.

The IDF began another wave of attacks on Tuesday morning, according to Army Radio.

The Israeli government has expanded support for October 7 survivors.

Off-duty soldiers at the Nova festival are now eligible for compensation, and mental health treatment sessions have been extended due to high demand. Families of survivors will also receive subsidized counseling.

The Kremlin warned on Tuesday that Israeli strikes on Lebanon had the potential to destabilise the Middle East and said it was very concerned by the evolving situation.

Hezbollah rocket fire on Tuesday morning caused multiple fires across northern Israel, damaging housing and infrastructure, including a cemetery in Kiryat Shmona.

The IDF reported that 50 projectiles were fired, with most intercepted and no casualties. A family at the cemetery was unharmed. Kiryat Shmona's deputy mayor noted improved conditions but stressed the need for lasting security.

The IDF launched a third round of airstrikes on Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, targeting 1,500 sites since Monday and dropping over 2,000 munitions. Public evacuation warnings were issued, prompting mass civilian evacuations from the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon.

Lebanese citizens fleeing towards Beirut faced severe traffic jams. Criticism is growing against Hezbollah for failing to protect civilians. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported over 550 deaths since the bombings began, with 16,500 people displaced. In Israel, around 100 rockets hit the north, causing damage but no fatalities.

Hostage Matan Zangauker is reportedly in stable condition and held underground with fewer than 10 other hostages, according to his mother, Einav Zangauker.

She emphasized the urgency of rescuing those still alive while expressing concern that the escalating conflict in the North might divert attention from hostages. She called for a diplomatic solution in the North to focus efforts on the hostages in the South but acknowledged the need to defend northern residents from attacks.

Hezbollah should not be allowed a reprieve, the IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said at a situational assessment held on Tuesday morning. 
 

The death toll in Lebanon as a result of Israeli air strikes on Hezbollah targets has reached 558.

Israel’s recent large-scale airstrikes on Hezbollah, targeting 1,300 sites in Lebanon, have marked a turning point in the conflict. The strikes, along with evacuation warnings to civilians, aim to disrupt Hezbollah's operations and challenge its longstanding threat to Israel.

Although Hezbollah has amassed significant military capabilities, including precision-guided munitions and drones, Israel’s actions have reduced the group's perceived invincibility. This escalation indicates a shift in Israel’s strategy, diminishing fears of Hezbollah’s overwhelming power while still recognizing its potential threat.