At least seven people, including an Israeli farmer and four Thai agricultural workers, were killed on Thursday in one of Hezbollah’s most intense rocket assaults in recent months, which targeted northern Israel. The attack, which struck close to the town of Metula near the Lebanese border, has been confirmed by both Israeli and Thai authorities.
The Israeli military reported that two rockets launched from Lebanon landed in an open area near Metula. Among the victims was 46-year-old Omer Weinstein, a father of four from Kibbutz Dafna. Thailand’s Foreign Minister, Maris Sangiampongsa, confirmed that four Thai nationals lost their lives, while a fifth was injured in the attack.
In another assault near Kibbutz Afek, about 65 kilometers southwest of Metula, an Israeli mother and son, Mina and Karmi Hasson, aged 60 and 30 respectively, were killed while working in an olive grove. Emergency responders Mazor and Yishai Levy shared, “We provided medical treatment and performed resuscitation, but unfortunately, we had to pronounce both of them dead.”
Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating that it launched rockets toward the Krayot area, located north of Haifa. The Israeli military noted that a total of 55 projectiles were fired at multiple northern areas, some intercepted by defense systems and others landing in open spaces.
This escalation marks a peak in a series of cross-border hostilities with significant fatalities. The violence continued on Wednesday when a rocket reportedly struck a UN peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon, causing minor structural damage but no injuries. Irish Premier Simon Harris condemned the attack, emphasizing that “peacekeepers are protected under international law.”
As tensions intensify, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. representatives to discuss a potential ceasefire, highlighting the need for safety measures for northern Israeli residents affected by the violence. The conflict has claimed over 60 lives in northern Israel, with Lebanese authorities reporting more than 2,800 deaths on their side since the hostilities began.
