An Israeli soldier carries an injured comrade after projectiles were fired from Lebanon towards Israel, in Hurfeish, Israel, on Wednesday, June 5.
Avi Ohayon/Reuters
Hezbollah militants in Lebanon launched at least two explosive UAVs in an attack on Hurfeish, a Druze Arab village, in northern Israel on Wednesday evening, the Israeli military said.
Nine people were treated for shrapnel injuries sustained in the drone strikes, according to the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, including a woman suffering abdominal and chest injuries, whose condition was described as moderate to serious.
The Israeli army has not commented on the identity of the injured, but the Reuters news agency reported that soldiers were among those wounded. Video obtained by the agency showed an ambulance moving several injured soldiers from the scene.
In one clip, a paramedic can be seen carrying a uniformed Israeli soldier on his back toward an ambulance. The soldier is conscious with his head raised and does not appear to be badly injured.
An eyewitness told Israel’s Channel 11 that the second self-detonating drone exploded as emergency responders arrived on the scene to treat patients injured in the first drone strike.
“We came to rescue those who were injured, and suddenly a second UAV approached,” Anwar Maer, head of the Hurfeish municipality said.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack which comes amid an escalation of tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
According to the Israeli military, Wednesday saw approximately 30 rockets and drones launched from Lebanon towards Israel. Israeli fighter jets also targeted Hezbollah positions, the military said.
“The [Israeli] strikes included terrorist infrastructure in Naqoura and Matmoura, Hezbollah military structures in Ayta ash Shab, and a Hezbollah observation post in Khiam,” the military added.
Tensions ramp up: Iran-backed-Hezbollah has increased attacks on Israel’s border in recent months, saying they are in protest at Israel’s war in Gaza. Just this week, cross-border attacks from Lebanon led to large fires in northern Israel that triggered evacuations.
Tamar Michaelis contributed reporting to this post.
