Hezbollah Launches Over 100 Rockets at Haifa, Israel Reports Death of Nasrallah's Successor

For the second day in a row, Haifa, a northern port city in Israel, has been bombarded by a record number of Hezbollah missiles. In just half a day, over 100 rockets have been launched towards the city in multiple waves, with the last wave consisting of 20 missiles.

Missile Attack on Haifa

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), while many of the rockets were intercepted, some did hit their targets, causing damage to several homes and injuring a 70-year-old woman with shrapnel. The initial barrage consisted of 85 missiles, followed by another 20. Sunday and Monday also saw a significant number of rockets fired, with a restaurant, infrastructure, and homes being hit.

Targeting Israel's Main Northern Metropolis

Reports from regional media indicate that Tuesday's attacks, which targeted Haifa Bay, the main northern metropolis of Israel, were the largest the city has experienced since the hostilities between the Lebanese group and Israel began. Israel’s Channel 12 news outlet reported that at least five rockets fell on the city, and the mayor of Haifa confirmed that a building in the Haifa Bay area was hit. The IDF has since reported that an air force drone struck rocket launchers used by Hezbollah for some of the Haifa attacks. South Lebanon remains a hotbed of intense fighting, and Beirut continues to be pounded by airstrikes.

Death of Nasrallah's Successor

In other news, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has provided an update on strikes conducted last week, which are believed to have killed Hashem Safieddine, the presumed successor to the late Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. Gallant stated that Israel believes Safieddine has been killed. According to Gallant, "Hezbollah is an organization without a leader, Nasrallah was eliminated, his replacement was probably also eliminated. This has a dramatic effect on everything that happens. There is no one to make decisions, no one to act."

Impact on Hezbollah

Gallant further stated that the actions taken by Israel are being closely watched across the Middle East. Once the situation in Lebanon stabilizes, he believes Iran will realize they have lost their most valuable asset, Hezbollah. He also noted that Hezbollah's capabilities and arsenal have taken a significant hit. In a new development, dpa reported on Tuesday that "Hezbollah's deputy leader has expressed openness to a deal with Israel." However, Israel has indicated that it plans to continue its operations in Lebanon for at least several more weeks.

Bottom Line

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah continues to escalate, with the city of Haifa bearing the brunt of the latest missile attacks. The reported death of Nasrallah's successor could potentially destabilize Hezbollah, altering the dynamics of the conflict. What are your thoughts on these developments? Share this article with your friends and discuss. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, delivered every day at 6pm.