Israel assassinates two Hamas terrorists in Lebanon as Hezbollah rockets damage homes in North

Israeli Air Force fighter jets on Saturday morning killed Muhammad Hussein Ali al-Mahmoud, who served as the operational arm of the Hamas terrorist organization in Lebanon, the IDF announced later in the day.

He was mainly responsible for directing terrorist activities in the West Bank. However, Muhammad has also been involved in Hamas's efforts to establish a foothold in Lebanon, which included supplying weapons for rocket fire toward Israel. He has been involved in trying to manufacture advanced weaponry as well.

In another joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet earlier Saturday morning, in the Tripoli area of Lebanon, the terrorist Said Alaa Naif Ali, from Hamas's military wing in Lebanon, was killed. He led attacks against Israelis and worked to recruit operatives for Hamas in Lebanon.

Rocket barrage towards Karmiel, northern Israel

On Saturday afternoon, following red alert sirens activated in Haifa and the surrounding areas, MDA teams were reported to be en route to the sites of reported rocket and shrapnel strikes. Approximately 30 rockets were intercepted in a barrage towards Karmiel, Kan reported. There were reports of damage in Karmiel and Deir al-Assad, though no casualties were reported.

In a video published to N12, the inside of a building can be seen with a gaping hole in the roof, where a rocket crashed through. 

The IDF stated that two projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon into Israel, activating sirens in the areas of Haifa Bay, Carmel, and Ha'Amakim. One projectile was intercepted by the IAF, and the second fell in an open area.

Earlier Saturday morning, Hezbollah shot approximately five rockets into Israeli territory, the IDF reported.

The IDF Aerial Defense Array intercepted some of the rockets, while the rest fell in open areas, the military added. As a result, rocket sirens sounded in the area of Ha'Amakim in northern Israel. 

Following these alerts, Israel's emergency medical service, Magen David Adom, announced that MDA teams were on the way to sites of reported rocket and shrapnel crashes.

Walla later reported that the attack was estimated to have targeted the air force base in Ramat David. No casualties were reported. 

IAF conducted additional strikes in southern Lebanon

The military said on Saturday morning that the Israel Air Force (IAF) struck Hezbollah terrorists operating within a command center that was located inside a mosque adjacent to the Salah Ghandour Hospital in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah terrorists used the command center to plan and execute terrorist attacks against soldiers and Israeli citizens, the IDF added.

The IDF reportedly sent notices to residents and held discussions with key figures in the villages before the strike.

Hezbollah utilizes hospitals in defiance of laws of armed conflict, the IDF said, noting that any military activity carried out from hospitals should be halted immediately. 

"Since the beginning of the war, and even more so since the beginning of the limited ground activity in southern Lebanon, the IDF has been making great efforts to prevent harming uninvolved civilians and civilian infrastructure," the IDF stated.

The military highlighted that these efforts stood in contrast to Hezbollah's use of civilian structures, including critical infrastructure, to shield its military activities.

Commando soldiers operate in ground op.

Along with IAF strikes, soldiers from the Commando Brigade destroyed munitions warehouses and Hezbollah tunnel shafts in southern Lebanon as part of the IDF's ground operation, the military reported on Saturday.

Soldiers operated within villages in southern Lebanon, including large swathes of villages converted to terrorist infrastructure and used by Hezbollah for terror purposes. Soldiers, guided by IDF intelligence, raided Hezbollah infrastructure both above and underground in mountainous and thicketed areas.

IDF soldiers found and destroyed weapons stockpiles, observation posts, missiles, and launching positions that were aimed toward Israeli territory, the military said. 

Troops also located and destroyed tunnel shafts used by Hezbollah terrorists to approach the border with Israel. Commando soldiers worked in coordination with the IAF, including the use of drones and advanced weaponry, to eliminate dozens of terrorists. 

Golani Brigade raids weapons storage facilities 

Soldiers from the Golani Brigade, under the command of the 36th Division, located weapons storage facilities and operational tunnel shafts, eliminated terrorists, and conducted raids to dismantle further terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon, the military said on Saturday.

In one raid, soldiers located and dismantled a weapons storage facility embedded inside civilian homes. In the storage facility, soldiers found weapons, observation equipment, launchers, and intelligence documents belonging to Hezbollah. 

In a briefing to soldiers, the Commanding Officer of the Golani Brigade said, "You are carrying out significant and important offensive operations for the benefit of the residents of the north. This is why we are here. Continue to operate professionally and precisely – I am proud of you.”

This is a developing story.