Hezbollah militants in Lebanon launched at least two explosive unmanned aerial vehicles in an attack on Hurfeish, a Druze Arab village, in northern Israel on Wednesday night, the Israeli military said.
Nine people were treated for shrapnel wounds sustained in the drone strikes, according to the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, including a woman who suffered abdominal and chest injuries, whose condition was described as moderate to severe.
The Israeli military has not commented on the identity of the wounded, but the Reuters news agency reported that soldiers were among the wounded. Video obtained by the agency showed an ambulance carrying several wounded soldiers from the scene.
In one video, a paramedic can be seen carrying a uniformed Israeli soldier on his back toward an ambulance. The soldier is conscious with his head raised and does not appear to be seriously injured.
A witness told Israel's Channel 11 that the second self-detonating drone exploded when emergency services arrived at the scene to treat patients injured in the first drone attack.
“We came to rescue the injured and suddenly a second unmanned aerial vehicle approached,” said Anwar Maer, head of Hurfeish municipality.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack which comes amid escalating tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
According to the Israeli military, approximately 30 rockets and drones were launched from Lebanon toward Israel on Wednesday. Israeli warplanes also attacked Hezbollah positions, the army said.
“He [Israeli] “The attacks included terrorist infrastructure in Naqoura and Matmoura, Hezbollah military structures in Ayta ash Shab and a Hezbollah observation post in Khiam,” the army added.
Tensions increase: Iran-backed Hezbollah has increased attacks on Israel's border in recent months, saying they are in protest of Israel's war in Gaza. Just this week, cross-border attacks from Lebanon sparked large fires in northern Israel that prompted evacuations.
Tamar Michaelis contributed reporting to this publication.
