Seven people were killed in two Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel, making the day the deadliest from such strikes in several months. The victims included four Thai agricultural workers and three Israelis in attacks near the Lebanese border and farther south in the Western Galilee.
The first strike hit an agricultural area near Metula, a border town that was inside a closed military zone. An Israeli farmer and four Thai workers were killed. Local media identified the farmer as Omer Weinstein, 46, a father of four from nearby Kibbutz Dafna. Thailand’s foreign minister, Maris Sangiampongsa, confirmed that four Thai nationals died in the rocket fire.
The Israeli military said two projectiles crossed from Lebanon on Thursday morning and landed in an open area near Metula. Haaretz reported that Weinstein and the workers were in a field near the border fence, and cited a local emergency responder who said the military had allowed them to enter the restricted area. Metula had been included in the closed zone established before Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon at the end of September.
Hours later, a rocket struck an olive grove near Kibbutz Afek, about 65 kilometres southwest of Metula and 28 kilometres from the Lebanese border. Israeli media identified those killed as Mina Hasson, 60, and her 30-year-old son, Karmi. Ambulance crews found both critically injured and attempted resuscitation before declaring them dead. A 70-year-old man suffered light shrapnel injuries and was taken to hospital.
The military said Hezbollah fired 55 projectiles toward the Western, Central and Upper Galilee regions during the early afternoon. Some were intercepted and others landed in open areas. Hezbollah said it had launched rocket barrages toward the Krayot area north of Haifa and at Israeli forces south of the Lebanese town of Khiam, across the border from Metula.
The attacks came amid continuing fighting in southern Lebanon and diplomatic efforts to negotiate a ceasefire. Two United States envoys met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem that day. Netanyahu’s office said Israel’s ability to counter threats from Lebanon and allow displaced northern residents to return safely was central to the talks.
Cross-border fighting had continued for nearly a year after Hezbollah began launching attacks in support of Palestinians following the Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023. By the end of October 2024, Israeli authorities said Hezbollah rocket, missile and drone attacks had killed more than 60 people in northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights. Lebanese authorities reported more than 2,800 deaths in Lebanon during the wider conflict.
