Hezbollah Rockets Wound Three Israeli Soldiers

Latest Developments

Rockets fired by Hezbollah on February 8 wounded three Israeli soldiers, including one seriously. Hezbollah launched numerous rockets that day at communities across northern Israel, including Kiryat Shmona, Biranit, and Mount Hermon. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that the wounded soldiers were evacuated to a hospital and their families were notified. The attack came two days after Hezbollah rocket fire wounded another two Israeli soldiers. More than 80,000 Israelis have been evacuated from northern Israel due to Hezbollah attacks that began on October 8.

Expert Analysis

“Hezbollah continued to attack Israel on February 8, wounding Israeli soldiers in yet another serious escalation. The Iranian-backed terrorist group is a major threat to Israel and the region. Like other Iranian-backed groups, such as militias in Iraq and Syria as well as the Houthis in Yemen, it has sought to spread havoc in the region in the wake of the Hamas attack on October 7. Hezbollah must be deterred and should withdraw from Israel’s northern border to bring peace to the region.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow

“Hezbollah’s goal is to create enough pressure on Israel’s northern border to preserve Hamas in Gaza. However, after months of fighting, the Israeli military’s progress in Gaza has not stalled and continues to make gains. Hezbollah needs to reassess its flawed strategy and cut its losses before the conflict on the Lebanon border escalates into a full-blown war.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

A Persistent Threat

Israeli artillery and airstrikes hit Hezbollah targets in response to the rocket fire, including a site near Khiam in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah carried out more than 2,000 rocket attacks on Israel between October 8 and January 9, according to IDF data. Since then, the Iranian-backed terrorist group has continued to attack Israel daily. Lebanon has rejected Israel’s requests for Hezbollah to withdraw from the border. The United States and its European partners have sought to broker a compromise that would end the clashes in northern Israel.

Related Analysis

“Lebanon Rejects Proposal to Curb Hezbollah,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hezbollah Rocket Attack Wounds Two Israeli Soldiers,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hezbollah Fires Rockets at Northern Israeli City of Nahariya,” FDD Flash Brief