Israeli fighter jets struck several Hezbollah weapons depots and command centers in Syria on Thursday — after the terror group fired a volley of missiles that killed at least seven people in the Jewish state.
The Israel Defense Forces said their jets hit facilities belonging to Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force and its armament unit stationed near the Lebanon-Syria border.
The armament unit, which typically stores Hezbollah’s weapons, has recently expanded to Syria and was hiding weapons in the city of al-Qusayr, according to the IDF.
The IDF has been monitoring Hezbollah’s efforts to transport weapons across the border, including arms coming from Iran, which backs the terror group.
The strike against Hezbollah’s outer forces and supplies came just moments after one of the terrorists’ rockets infiltrated northern Israel and killed five people at an agricultural site near the town of Metula.
One of the victims was identified as an Israeli citizen, while the other four were foreign nationals, the Times of Israel reported.
Many foreign nationals work in orchards across Israel, including those who are among the 97 people still being held hostage in Gaza.
Hezbollah followed up the attack with a second barrage in northern Israel, with the Jewish state’s Magen David Adom rescue service reporting two deaths at another orchard near Kiryat Ata.
First responders identified the victims as a woman in her 60s and a man in his 30s.
Another man, said to be in his 70s, was transported to the hospital, according to Magen David Adom.
Officials said all three victims were hit by rocket shrapnel, the TOI reported.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack, with Israeli officials noting that the strike was launched from Lebanon.
Despite suffering major blows to its leadership and rank-and-file fighters, Hezbollah continues to fire dozens of rockets and drones every day in northern and central Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting with US officials on Thursday to discuss the ongoing fight in Lebanon and Gaza as America seeks to bridge a peace deal to end the war.
