Hezbollah Rockets Target IDF Base in Northern Israel

Latest Developments

Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets at the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) Meron Airbase in northern Israel on February 27. The rockets set off sirens in northern Israeli communities just before 8:00 a.m. local time. Footage of the attack showed numerous interceptions by Israeli air defense and smoke rising from Mount Meron. The base was unharmed. Hezbollah previously fired projectiles at the Meron Airbase on January 23. Hezbollah has carried out thousands of attacks on Israel in the wake of Hamas’s massacre on October 7.

Expert Analysis

“Hezbollah’s rocket fire illustrates the threat Hezbollah continues to pose to Israel and the region. Hezbollah has been escalating the type and depth of its attacks on Israel in recent weeks. The Iranian-backed terrorist group’s attacks threaten civilians across northern Israel and have already forced more than 80,000 people to evacuate their homes. It is essential that Hezbollah cease its attacks and that its threats be removed from near the border so that peace can return to northern Israel.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow

“Although the recent attack on Mount Meron is worrisome, it pales in comparison to what Hezbollah is truly capable of. If a conflict were to escalate beyond the Lebanon-Israel border, the consequences could be catastrophic for both sides. In such a scenario, Hezbollah may launch thousands of rockets daily, dwarfing what Palestinian armed groups are capable of, all while locations in Lebanon, such as the southern suburbs of Beirut and the Beqaa Valley, would witness a strong Israeli response.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

Hezbollah Targets Israeli Bases in Northern Israel

The Iranian-backed terrorist group has increased its attacks on Israeli bases in northern Israel over the last two months. On February 14, Hezbollah rocket fire targeting IDF Northern Command’s base in Safed killed an IDF soldier. On January 6, Hezbollah targeted the same base again. The Times of Israel subsequentlyreported that the IDF “admitted damage was caused to a sensitive air traffic control base in northern Israel following a Hezbollah missile attack.”

Israel Responds to Hezbollah Attacks on Golan

Hezbollah downed an Israeli Elbit Hermes 450 “Zik” drone with surface-to-air missiles on February 26. In retaliation, Israel struck sites “deep” inside Lebanon, according to the IDF. Hezbollah then fired dozens of rockets at communities in the Golan Heights. These rockets almost hit a bus full of schoolchildren. In response, “IDF fighter jets struck a launch site in the area of Kawkaba from which dozens of launches were carried out toward the Golan Heights approximately an hour ago,” the IDF said. The IDF also struck Hezbollah military compounds and killed a Hezbollah terrorist who “commanded recent Hezbollah terrorist activities,” the IDF reported.

Related Analysis

“Hezbollah Shoots Down Israeli Drone With Surface-to-Air Missiles,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israeli Airstrike Kills Two Hezbollah Terrorists, Including Senior Radwan Commander,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hezbollah Rocket and Anti-Tank Missiles Target Northern Israel,” FDD Flash Brief