Hezbollah Launches Rockets and Drones at Israel During Yom Kippur; UAV Hits Home in Herzliya

Hezbollah launched a series of rockets and drones into Israel throughout the Yom Kipfivepur weekend, marking a significant escalation in hostilities. On Friday, a drone struck a home in Herzliya, causing damage but no casualties.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that two drones were tracked after crossing the Lebanese border, with one successfully shot down by fighter jets.

The military is investigating why the second drone was not intercepted before it hit the residence. Social media footage showed the drone flying low over buildings in Herzliya.

In the same period, dozens of rockets were fired into northern Israel, activating air raid sirens in Haifa, Safed, and other towns. Despite the barrage, no injuries or significant damage were reported in these attacks.

כטבם טייל לו בשכונה שלי ביום כיפור. כל הילדים היו ברחוב עם אופניים מבוהלים. pic.twitter.com/x9ofCNubNC

— Amir🍀 (@kraitzer) October 11, 2024

Israeli military operations also intensified in southern Lebanon over the weekend. On Saturday, the IDF ordered the evacuation of residents from 22 additional villages, advising them to move north of the Awali River for their safety. “For your protection, do not return to your homes until further notice,” warned IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee.

Smoke rises during Israeli strikes on villages overlooking the southern Lebanese city of Tyre on October 11, 2024 (KAWNAT HAJU / AFP)

Israeli forces have been targeting Hezbollah posts in the region, continuing their efforts to dismantle the group’s infrastructure.

The IDF also issued warnings to healthcare workers in southern Lebanon, urging them to avoid using ambulances allegedly being utilised by Hezbollah fighters. “We call on medical teams to avoid contact with Hezbollah members and not to cooperate with them,” Adraee said, adding that any vehicle transporting armed individuals could be targeted.

Israel faced growing international criticism after a recent attack wounded two UN peacekeepers stationed in southern Lebanon. The IDF acknowledged that its forces fired at a perceived threat near a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) post, and a “hit” resulted in injuries. An initial investigation indicated that a UNIFIL position, about 50 meters from the source of the threat, was struck during the incident.

Vehicles from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol in Marjayoun in southern Lebanon on October 12, 2024 (AFP)

In response, U.S. President Joe Biden called for Israel to stop firing near UN positions, labelling the situation as “unacceptable.” U.S. special envoy to Lebanon Amos Hochstein echoed this sentiment, calling the attack “unjustifiable.” France, Italy, and Spain joined in condemning the incident, stressing the importance of protecting peacekeepers and calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, vowed to continue its fight against Israel. The group’s media head, Mohammad Afif, declared that Hezbollah’s goal is to “defeat the enemy and force them to stop the aggression.” He warned that Tel Aviv had only seen a small part of Hezbollah’s capabilities but stated the group remained open to ceasefire efforts.

At the same time, the U.S. has been working to broker a ceasefire in Lebanon, with Hochstein stating that America is “working non-stop” toward de-escalation. He expressed concern over Israel’s ongoing airstrikes in Beirut, which have targeted Hezbollah leaders and weapons stockpiles.

US envoy Amos Hochstein (left) meets with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Tel Aviv on September 16, 2024. (Ariel Hermoni/ Defense Ministry)

Hochstein condemned the bombings in densely populated areas, emphasising that the strikes need to stop.

Israeli airstrikes in Beirut have reportedly eliminated much of Hezbollah’s leadership, with secondary explosions at several sites confirming the presence of weaponry. Hezbollah’s spokesperson, Afif, denied that weapons were stored in the targeted areas and claimed the secondary blasts were due to Israeli-timed bombs designed to make it appear otherwise.

He reassured residents displaced from southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region that they would return soon.

Back in Israel, a tragic incident occurred on Friday when a 27-year-old foreign worker from Thailand was killed, and another was injured after an unexploded ordnance detonated in an orchard near Kibbutz Yir’on in the Upper Galilee.

Rescue workers search at the site of Thursday’s Israeli airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Authorities believe Hezbollah may have fired the mortar five, though the exact circumstances remain under investigation.

Israel’s military operations continued over the weekend, with the IDF sending another brigade into southern Lebanon.

The unit reportedly destroyed Hezbollah tunnels, defensive positions, and other critical infrastructure near the border. Since October 8, Hezbollah forces have launched near-daily attacks on Israeli military posts and communities, framing their actions as support for Gaza in the ongoing conflict.

Israel, which had long warned of military action if diplomacy failed, has significantly ramped up its strikes in recent weeks. The ground offensive aims to eliminate the Hezbollah threat along the northern border, as the conflict shows no sign of resolution.