Hezbollah commander ‘most senior’ to be killed since war began
A senior Hezbollah commander killed in an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon on Tuesday is the most senior casualty from the group since war broke out with Israel in October, Reuters reports, citing security sources.
The air strike hit Taleb Abdallah, also known as Abu Taleb, in the town of Jouaiya, killing him and three others. The anonymous sources told Reuters they were likely targeted during a meeting.
The sources added that Abdallah was Hezbollah’s commander for the central region of Lebanon’s southern border and was senior to Wissam al-Tawil – another high-level Hezbollah commander killed in January.
Israel’s military claims attack that killed senior Hezbollah commander
In a post on X, Israel’s military confirmed reports that it killed four Hezbollah members on Tuesday, including senior commander Sami Taleb Abdullah.
The military claimed Abdullah was one of Hezbollah’s “most senior commanders in southern Lebanon”, responsible for planning and waging attacks on Israeli civilians.
The strike that killed Abdullah near the town of Jouaiyya, 15kms (nine miles) from the border, was part of an attack on a “Hezbollah command and control center”, according to the military.
Northern Israel comes under heavy rocket fire: Reports
Israeli news outlets are reporting a heavy barrage of rockets fired towards the Upper Galilee, Lower Galilee and Jordan Valley regions of northern Israel this morning.
Israeli broadcaster Kan posted video footage of missile defence systems intercepting incoming rockets.
Israel’s Channel 12 also posted video footage of missile defences in action and quoted the Israeli military as saying “about 100 launches” from Lebanon targeted Israel.
דובר צה"ל: כ-100 שיגורים מלבנון@guyvaron
צילום: אברהם אלבז https://t.co/jWLbi9Cl4b pic.twitter.com/jukgmE2C2f
— החדשות - N12 (@N12News) June 12, 2024
Israeli military reports fires after rockets hit northern parts
In a post on Telegram, Israel’s military has confirmed a major rocket attack from Lebanon, saying some 90 projectiles were fired into Israel. It said some of the projectiles were shot down, while others struck areas in northern Israel, sparking fires.
Videos shared on Israeli social media accounts, verified by Al Jazeera, show explosions in the skies of northern Israel and smoke rising in the city of Tiberias, which was reportedly hit by some rockets.
Seventy more rockets fired at Israel
Israel’s military says at least 70 more projectiles crossed into Israel from Lebanon, bringing the total number fired this morning to 160. Some of the projectiles were shot down, while most fell in open areas, said the military, adding no casualties were reported.
The military said it responded by waging an air strike on the rockets’ launch site in an area near Yaroun in southern Lebanon.
Israeli forces launch numerous raids in southern Lebanon
Israeli forces have launched raids on the towns of Markaba, al-Adisa, and Deir Siryan in southern Lebanon, an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent reports.
Lebanese armed group Hezbollah meanwhile said it targeted Israeli spy equipment in the Ruwaisat al-Alam site in the Kafr Shuba Hills.
The news comes as part of an escalation witnessed on the Lebanese front since this morning, as Hezbollah bombed many Israeli settlements and sites with about 170 missiles in response to the Israeli forces’ assassination of four Hezbollah members Tuesday evening, including a senior commander.
Four killed, three wounded following Israeli air strike in Lebanon
The Lebanese Civil Defence has posted photos on X showing the team extinguishing a fire that broke out in a house after it was targeted by an Israeli air strike in Joya at dawn.
The team rescued three people and recovered four bodies from underneath the rubble of the destroyed house, it said.
٢/١
اخماد حريق منزل اثر غارة جوية إسرائيلية في جويا.
تمكن عناصر من الدفاع المدني بالتعاون مع الجمعيات المحلية، وبعد جهود استمرت منذ الساعة ٢١:٢٠ من تاريخ ٢٠٢٤/٠٦/١١ ولغاية الساعة ٠٣:٥٠ من تاريخ اليوم الواقع في ٢٠٢٤/٠٦/١٢،من إخماد حريق شبَّ داخل منزل في جويا-صور. pic.twitter.com/lRKmReUGN0
— الدفاع المدني اللبناني (@CivilDefenseLB) June 12, 2024
Hezbollah vows to increase intensity of operations against Israel
Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine says the group will increase the intensity, force and quantity of its operations against Israel after the killing of senior commander Sami Taleb Abdullah.
Cross-border strikes between Israel and Hezbollah have since escalated, with the Lebanese group firing a major rocket barrage at northern Israel today and Israel carrying out a series of raids in southern Lebanon.
Merchant ship hit in Red Sea off Yemen
A merchant vessel issued a distress call after being struck in the Red Sea off Yemen, a security firm said, in what appeared to be the latest attack by the Houthi group.
The ship was hit about 68 nautical miles (126km) southwest of the Houthi-held port city of Hodeidah, maritime security firm Ambrey said. The company “assessed the vessel aligned with the Houthi target profile at the time of the incident”, it said in a statement, without giving further details.
The Houthis have launched scores of drone and missile attacks on Israel-linked vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November. They say they hit the vessels as an act of solidarity with Palestinians during Israel’s war on Gaza.
