from Hezbollah Strike Northern Israel, Ministers Demand Retaliation — Drones

On Sunday, two drones believed to have been launched by the militant group Hezbollah from Lebanon hit northern Israel. According to the Israeli military, the drones struck near the Israel-Lebanon border but did not cause any casualties. The military stated that 'two impacts of suspicious aerial targets in Israeli territory were identified near the Israel-Lebanon border. No injuries were reported.' Following the drone strikes, two far-right Israeli ministers, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, called for retaliatory strikes against Beirut's southern suburbs, which is a stronghold of Hezbollah known as Dahiyeh. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on X, 'The shooting at northern communities is a test of the Dahiyeh Doctrine that the prime minister declared. I call on him to implement it decisively and firmly, and to bring down buildings in Dahiyeh.' National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also wrote on X, 'For every drone — a missile; for every violation — fire; for every UAV — Dahiyeh must tremble.' Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have previously warned that Israel would target Dahiyeh if the Iran-backed Hezbollah group targets northern Israeli communities, a position they claim has the backing of Washington.