🛡️ IDF ACKNOWLEDGES WARNING FAILURE AHEAD OF HEZBOLLAH’S 200-ROCKET AND DRONE BARRAGE AS ISRAELI FORCES STRIKE LAUNCHERS, ELIMINATE RADWAN COMMANDER, AND CONTINUE SYSTEMATIC DEGRADATION OF HEZBOLLAH OPERATIONS IN SOUTHERN LEBANON
❗️ IDF ACKNOWLEDGES FAILURE TO UPDATE THE PUBLIC BEFORE HEZBOLLAH’S BARRAGE: The IDF says it was a mistake not to notify the public ahead of Hezbollah’s large rocket and drone attack on northern Israel last night.
The IDF had indications that Hezbollah was preparing a larger-than-usual attack on Wednesday, though it was not assessed as exceptionally major in light of the group’s ongoing rocket fire during the war with Iran.
Those indications later leaked on social media and were also reported by international media. Several regional councils in northern Israel warned residents that heavy fire from Lebanon was expected.
Military officials say the IDF should have been more transparent once the assessments were already circulating publicly, mainly to maintain public trust. The military did update local authorities in the north shortly before the attack began, but officials now say that was far too late.
The IDF says it will investigate the incident and work in the future to update the public ahead of potential major attacks.
🚀 HEZBOLLAH FIRED ABOUT 200 ROCKETS AND ABOUT 20 DRONES AT NORTHERN ISRAEL: According to the IDF, the Hezbollah attack included around 200 rockets and some 20 drones.
The military says this represented only about one-third of what Hezbollah had initially planned. Most of the rockets were intercepted or struck open areas.
Two impacts occurred in residential areas, causing damage and lightly injuring two people. Nearly all of the drones were intercepted, aside from one that crashed near a border community without exploding.
The IDF says it acted ahead of the barrage by striking at least one rocket launcher and several Hezbollah command centers in Lebanon. Once the attack began, additional launchers were identified and around half were destroyed.
⚔ ONGOING HEZBOLLAH FIRE DURING THE CURRENT ESCALATION: Since March 2, Hezbollah has launched around 100 rockets a day, according to the IDF.
The military says two-thirds of those rockets were aimed at Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon and along the border, while one-third were aimed at Israel.
Hezbollah has also launched more than 100 drones at Israel since the hostilities escalated. The IDF says the vast majority were shot down by the Israeli Air Force.
⚠️ IDF EXPANDS EVACUATION WARNING IN SOUTHERN LEBANON: The IDF has expanded its evacuation warning in southern Lebanon, instructing all civilians living south of the Zahrani River to leave their homes immediately. The move significantly widens the previously designated danger zone and indicates that Israeli military operations against Hezbollah infrastructure may expand deeper into southern Lebanon, with the warning intended to reduce civilian risk ahead of potential intensified activity.
🎯 Radwan Force commander eliminated in southern Lebanon: Last Saturday, in a strike in the Harouf area, the IDF targeted Abu Ali Riyan, the commander of the Radwan Force unit in southern Lebanon.
Riyan was the central figure responsible for coordinating operations in the sector, recruiting operatives, and managing the unit’s weapons supply chain.
❌ Radwan Force capabilities continue to be degraded: The Radwan Force is responsible for Hezbollah’s raid operations and serves as a central offensive and propaganda arm of the organization.
The IDF says that, in addition to the elimination of senior Radwan Force commanders, more than 100 terrorists have been eliminated and more than 60 unit command and control centers have been dismantled.
The IDF says it is operating with force and determination against the Hezbollah terrorist organization following its decision to deliberately attack Israel on behalf of the Iranian regime.
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