Hezbollah fires more than 100 rockets at Israel in response to commander's killing: Day 271 of the Gaza War

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Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told soldiers near the Gaza border that the Israeli military is "hitting Hezbollah hard every day," Haaretz reported.

Referring to the tanks present there, he said: "This tank ... once it leaves the battlefield, it knows how to reach the Litani. We are determined to take this step in Lebanon if necessary."

"We will reach a state of full readiness to undertake any action required in Lebanon or reach an agreement from a position of strength. We prefer agreement, but if reality compels us, we will respond with arms," ​​he added.

Update on the situation in South Lebanon:

- Residents reported that interceptor missiles exploded in the sky of Odaisseh (Marjayoun).

- Half an hour later, Israeli artillery fired on Markaba (Marjayoun), according to other residents.

- Hezbollah announced an attack on the Israeli site of Rahib opposite Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil). The party did not include this attack in its retaliation following the death of one of its commanders today near Sour.

Latest update of southern Lebanon:

- Israeli artillery targeted the center of Khiam (Marjayoun), with nine shells falling in residential neighborhoods and on the outskirts of the town, according to residents. In addition, artillery shelling was reported on the outskirts of Deir Sirian, Kfar Kila and Taybeh (Marjayoun), according to other residents.

- Hezbollah claimed two new attacks in retaliation for the attack that killed one of its commanders earlier near Sour. The first simultaneously targeted "the headquarters of the 210th Golan Division, in the Nafah barracks," located about 20 km from the border; as well as "the headquarters of the air and missile defense, in the Kila'a barracks," also located a good distance away. The party claimed a total of 100 Katyusha rockets fired at these two sites. The second attack targeted the "headquarters of the 769th Brigade in the Kiryat Shmona barracks " with "Falak missiles."

The Israeli army claimed responsibility in a statement for the strike that killed Hezbollah commander Mohammed Naame Nasser this afternoon near Sour.

"Earlier today (Wednesday), [Israeli army] forces eliminated terrorist Mohammed Naame Nasser, the commander of the Aziz Unit ... which is responsible for firing from southwest Lebanon into Israeli territory," read the text, which attached a short biography of the commander "who took office in 2016."

Latest developments on the Lebanese-Israeli border:

- According to a security source, rockets were launched from southern Lebanon towards the Golan. They appear to be new models, their noise being more powerful than previously, the source added.

- Residents of the area report that an Israeli drone attacked the surroundings of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil).

In a statement published on Telegram, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad paid tribute to Hezbollah commander Mohammed Naame Nasser killed today by an Israeli strike in al-Hosh, near Sour, in South Lebanon.

"The Al-Quds Brigades are proud of the prominent and influential role played by the martyr ... in supporting the Palestinian resistance," the armed faction said.

An update on the situation in southern Lebanon:

- Hezbollah said it targeted the Israeli site of Ramtha, on the disputed Kfar Shouba hills (opposite the Lebanese town of the same name in Hasbaya district), with rockets at 4:10 p.m.

- Hezbollah announced the death of one of its members, Mohammed KhaShab, born in 1997 in the city of Mansouri (Sour) in southern Lebanon. Khashab was killed by an Israeli drone that hit a car earlier in the day in al-Hosh, in the same district, at the same time as Hezbollah commander Mohammed Naame Nasser, according to a security source contacted by L'Orient Today. The party has lost 364 members since Oct. 8, 2023

- Hezbollah said it targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at a location called Tahya Triangle, on the edge of Marjayoun district, at 2:10 p.m.

The funeral poster for Hezbollah commander Mohammed Naame Nasser. (Credit: Hezbollah Media Office)

Hezbollah announced that it will hold a funeral procession for the slain Hezbollah commander Mohammed Naame Nasser, "Hajj Abu Naame," on Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Sayyed Shuhada center in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The party noted that the event will commemorate "his significant sacrifices and longstanding commitment to the resistance." Following the procession, he will be buried in his hometown of Haddatha (Bint Jbeil) at 6 p.m., according to the party's announcement.

Israel broke the sound barrier twice over Beirut and its suburbs, local residents told L'Orient Today. Israel also broke the sound barrier four times over southern areas. It was heard above Sour and Saida and reached neighboring towns and villages.

Hezbollah said it targeted surveillance equipment at the Israeli Malkia site, facing the Lebanese village of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil) with appropriate weaponry at 4:00 p.m.

The "martyr" poster for Hezbollah Commander Mohammed Naame Nasser. (Credit: Hezbollah Media Office)

Hezbollah announced the death of Commander Mohammed Naame Nasser, "Hajj Abu Naame," born in 1965 in the town of Haddatha (Bint Jbeil) southern Lebanon, who was "martyred on the path to Jerusalem." He was killed in an Israeli drone strike earlier today in al-Hosh (Sour), according to security sources cited by L'Orient Today. The strike also killed another person, according to security and medical sources.

Apart from the targeted strike in al-Haoush, there were also four artillery shells launched at Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil), according to residents. Artillery fire also targeted Jibbain (Sour), according to local residents.

According to security sources contacted by L'Orient Today, one of the two killed in the Israeli strike in al-Haoush is a Hezbollah military official. These sources estimate that he would be of equal importance to Taleb Abdallah, killed on June 11, and whose death had provoked a violent response by the party.

Israeli artillery targeted the town of Jibbayn (Sour) with four shells, residents told L'Orient Today.

US President Joe Biden is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the latter's upcoming visit to Washington, D.C. — where Netanyahu will address a joint session of Congress later this month, a White House official confirmed to US news website Axios.

The meeting comes amidst escalating tensions between the Biden administration and the Israeli government over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. According to Axios, a White House official highlighted Biden's longstanding relationship with Netanyahu, spanning three decades, suggesting the likelihood of an encounter during the prime minister's visit.

Netanyahu's trip marks his first overseas travel since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and his first face-to-face meeting with Biden since the president's visit to Israel shortly after the attack. The visit also coincides with Netanyahu's scheduled speech to Congress on July 24, amidst the U.S. presidential election campaign and mounting criticism of Biden's recent debate performance.

Here are the latest updates on the South Lebanon-Israeli border:

- A military official in Hezbollah was killed in the targeting of the car in al-Hosh (Sour), a security source told L'Orient Today. One other person was killed in the strike, a medical and security source had told L’Orient Today.

- Israeli artillery shelling targeted Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil) with four shells, residents reported.

Israel’s far-right Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu has retweeted a post promoting merchandise that calls for the occupation of Egypt’s Sinai peninsula. The tweet calls for the purchasing of a shirt showing a map of Israel which includes the occupied West Bank, Gaza and Sinai.

“Take it on trips, dress all the children in it [soon there will also be sizes for little ones], put it on the car, let’s create awareness: The people demand an occupation! Occupation now!” read the original tweet promoted by Eliyahu.

Two people were wounded in a stabbing attack in an Israeli mall today, Reuters cited the Israeli police.

"Karmiel assailant is an Israeli resident of the Arab town of Nahf," the Israeli police added.

According to Israeli Channel 12, as reported by Reuters, one of the two wounded in the knife attack at a mall in northern Israel has died, while the other remains in critical condition.

To read more about the incident, press here. 👈

(Credit: Muntasser Abdallah)

⚡ Two were killed in the Israeli airstrike on the car in al-Hosh (Sour district), a security and medical source reported.

Witnesses reported artillery fire in central Gaza, Nousseirat refugee camp.

In the south, Israeli bombings targeted the central and western parts of Rafah, according to local Palestinian authorities.

In Gaza, the Israeli army announced it is continuing its operations in Shujaiya — north of the strip — where it said it has "eliminated terrorists" and struck "more than 50 terrorist infrastructures." It added that operations were ongoing in Rafah, southern Gaza, and in central Gaza.

According to an AFP correspondent, Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire targeted multiple areas in Gaza City, including Shujaiya, where a Hamas source reported ground fighting.

Seven were found killed under the rubble of a bombed house in the northern part of the city, according to civil defense.

In total, 1.9 million residents of Gaza are now displaced, which amounts to 80% of the population, said Sigrid Kaag, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the territory, on Tuesday. She expressed deep concern about the new evacuation order.

Israel did not indicate whether there would be a new large-scale operation in southern Gaza, but its evacuation orders typically precede intense fighting.

This is "the largest [evacuation] order since October, when residents of northern Gaza were ordered to evacuate" in the early days of the war, emphasized the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), adding that Monday's order affected an area of 117 square kilometers, approximately one-third of Gaza's total area.

"An evacuation of such a massive scale will only heighten the suffering of civilians and drive humanitarian needs even higher," warned OCHA.

In Gaza, where the Israeli offensive continues, approximately 250,000 people, according to the UN, have been urged to evacuate since Monday from areas in the eastern Rafah and Khan Younis regions. They are forced to seek water, food, and shelter across the territory devastated by nearly nine months of war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement.

Yesterday, amid temperatures near 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), displaced families fled on foot or crammed into overloaded cars and trailers amid the dusty ruins of Khan Younis, the largest city in southern Gaza. Some had slept outdoors, unsure where to go, AFP reported. 

More updates from South Lebanon in the early pre-dawn hours, according to security sources:



- At midnight, an Israeli ground-to-ground missile targeted and completely destroyed a house in the town of Tayr Harfa (Sour). Civil defense teams from the Islamic Scout Association and the Islamic Health Association inspected the targeted house and worked on opening the road.

- Israeli artillery shelled Yaroun (Bint Jbeil), and several flash bombs were dropped over Maroun al-Ras (Bint Jbeil) at 1:00 a.m.

- Israeli artillery targeted the town of Kfar Kila (Marjayoun) at 4:00 a.m.

Here’s what happened in South Lebanon last night according to security sources: 



- Israeli artillery targeted Labbouneh, Shayhin and al-Jabin, all in Sour district, with several shells after 9:00 p.m.

- An Israeli airstrike bombed the outskirts of Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil) after 10:00 p.m.

- An Israeli airstrike targeted a house in Yaroun (Bint Jbeil) after 10:30 p.m. No casualties or injuries were reported.

- Israeli artillery shelled the town of Alma Shaab, in the western sector of Sour district at 11:00 p.m.

In South Lebanon, a cautious calm prevails in villages and towns this morning, with one recorded incident, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent. A single Israeli artillery shelling targeted a house in Kfar Kila (Marjayoun district) at 7:30 a.m.

Good morning ☀️

Thank you for joining our coverage of day 271 of the Gaza War and its repercussions on the region — particularly Lebanon.