Hezbollah, which hit Israel’s third largest city, Haifa, with missiles two days in a row, published an extraordinary video recording on Wednesday evening.
The Lebanese group targeted the strategic port city, about 30 kilometers from the border as the crow flies, in broad daylight.
The incessantly sounding sirens were followed by explosions in the sky as the air defense systems were activated, and many buildings were damaged in the city on the Mediterranean coast.
In addition to some missiles that overcame air defense systems, shrapnel from explosions in the sky injured at least 15 people. While the electricity was cut in the northern districts of Haifa, dozens of videos were published on social media.
The fact that Hezbulah, which the Israeli army has been targeting with intense air strikes since September 23, was still able to hit Haifa shows that the operational structure of the group is in place.
In the series of assassinations that started with Fuad Şükür in Beirut on the evening of July 30, Hezbollah lost all its senior leaders, including its leader Hasan Nasrallah. There has been no news from Hashim Seyfeddin, who is expected to replace Hasan Nasrallah, for days. While the Israelis say that Seyfeddin died in an air strike, no statement has been made by Hezbollah.
Hezbollah, the most powerful non-state actor in the Middle East, which is estimated to have tens of thousands of militia and around 150 thousand missiles in its arsenal, published aerial images of all military bases and critical facilities in Haifa.
In the video recorded by the unmanned aerial vehicle called Hüdhüd 3, the focus is on the Carmel region. Al Meyadin television, known for its closeness to Hezbollah, stated that there are military headquarters as well as industrial, scientific and touristic facilities in the Carmel region and gave details about the recording.
The television reported that the air base Kiryat Eliezer, responsible for protecting Haifa and its surroundings, and the naval base Stellamaris on the Mediterranean coast were monitored, and emphasized the multi-layered radar systems.
The recording, which lasts more than 7 minutes, includes places such as Mishar Carmel base and Ze’ev base, as well as Iron Dome air defense system batteries. The oil refinery and industrial areas in the critical port city of Haifa also came into the frame of the reconnaissance drone.
Analysis: Escalating Conflict between Israel and Hezbollah
The recent news article regarding Hezbollah’s missile attacks on Israel’s third-largest city, Haifa, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two sides. As a blog news writer, I will analyze the situation based on recent developments and available information.
Firstly, the fact that Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, was able to hit Haifa with missiles for two consecutive days is a disturbing indication of their military capabilities. The strategic port city, located just 30 kilometers from the border, was targeted in broad daylight, emphasizing the group’s ability to carry out daylight attacks [[without provided source]]. The damage caused by the attacks, including buildings damaged by explosions and shrapnel from air defense systems, is a testament to the severity of the situation.
Meanwhile, Israel has been striking back at Hezbollah, targeting their leadership and military commanders. According to NBC News, the Israeli military confirmed the killing of two Hezbollah commanders in airstrikes [[1]]. Moreover, it has been reported that Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on September 28, 2024 [[2]]. These developments suggest that Israel is intensifying its efforts to dismantle Hezbollah’s leadership and military capabilities.
The Israeli military has also been targeting Syria, with airstrikes hitting the country [[1]]. This move could be interpreted as an attempt to limit Iran’s influence in the region and disrupt the supply chain of arms and resources to Hezbollah. However, this strategy could also lead to further escalation and potentially draw in other regional actors.
The recent airstrikes in central Beirut, which killed 18 people, demonstrate the increasing intensity of the conflict [[3]]. The Israeli military has warned Lebanese civilians in the south not to return home, indicating a prolonged and intense campaign against Hezbollah.
the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has reached a critical point, with both sides suffering losses and the region bracing for further hostilities. The international community must pay close attention to this developing situation, as it has the potential to destabilize the entire region and lead to further bloodshed.
References:
[[1]]https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-killed-hezbollah-commanders-lebanon-gaza-iran-syria-netanyahu-rcna174798
[[2]]https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-airstrikes-28-september-2024-c4751957433ff944c4eb06027885a973
[[3]]https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hezbollah-targets-israeli-troops-lebanese-border-sirens-beirut-2024-10-09/
(Note: As the exact date of the original news article is not provided, the analysis is based on the given information and recent developments in the conflict.)