ALBAWABA - Three Israelis died and 67 were injured in a Hezbollah drone and missile attack on Haifa in northern Israel on Sunday. One of the bloodiest attacks since the fighting began.
Israeli emergency services reported that a drone exploded near Binyamina, south of Haifa. The victims' military or civilian status is unknown.
A Hezbollah official told Al Jazeera that assault drones were used in Binyamina. He noted that Hezbollah may still strike far into Israel. The official revealed that this drone swarm attacked a Golani Brigade camp nearby.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the incident, saying it was retaliation for Israeli raids on Beirut's Nuweiri and Basta districts and elsewhere.
Israeli media stated that a drone hit a mess hall where troops were gathering, although the IDF has not acknowledged this.
Israel Hayom said that the drones struck their target without warning sirens, surprising the region. According to army radio, an Israeli military source revealed that the country's air defense systems failed to identify the drones and that an inquiry is ongoing to determine why.
Hezbollah's bloodiest assault since the conflict was the Binyamina drone strike, according to another military officer reported by Israeli army radio.
One drone was caught near Nahariya, while the other that hit Binyamina escaped detection, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority.
Israel's Channel 12 said that the drones were hidden by a missile bombardment targeting Galilee. The missile barrage helped Hezbollah deflect attention from the drone strike, according to a military source.
In reaction to the attack, Israel's Home Front Command advised Safed and Upper Galilee residents to stay near protected shelters and avoid public gatherings.
