At least seven people have died following two separate Hezbollah rocket attacks in northern Israel, marking the deadliest day of such strikes in months.
An Israeli farmer and four Thai agricultural workers were killed when rockets landed near Metula, a town bordering Lebanon, according to Israeli and Thai officials, BBC reports.
The Israeli military identified two projectiles crossing from Lebanon and falling in an open area near Metula on Thursday morning, it was reported.
The deceased Israeli farmer has been named as Omer Weinstein, a 46-year-old father-of-four from nearby Kibbutz Dafna.
Thailand’s Foreign Minister, Maris Sangiampongsa, confirmed the fatalities of four Thai nationals due to the rocket fire, with a fifth worker sustaining injuries.
“We were called to the olive grove and saw a man in his 30s lying on the ground, unconscious,” said Magen David Adom paramedics Mazor and Yishai Levy.
In the second attack, an Israeli woman and her adult son were killed in an olive grove near Kibbutz Afek, about 65km south-west of Metula.
Reports indicated that Mina Hasson, 60, and her son Karmi, 30, were picking olives when the rocket struck.
“We provided her with medical treatment and performed resuscitation, but unfortunately, we had to pronounce both of them dead,” the paramedics noted.
Hezbollah confirmed its attacks, stating it had fired barrages of rockets towards the Krayot area north of Haifa. The Israeli military stated that 55 projectiles were aimed at various locations in the region, with some intercepted and others landing in open areas.
This escalation follows a series of conflicts that have resulted in significant casualties on both sides.
In related news, a UN peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon was reportedly hit by a rocket on Wednesday night, causing minimal damage but no casualties, according to Lt Gen Sean Clancy.
Irish Premier Simon Harris condemned the incident, affirming that “peacekeepers are protected under international law.”
As tensions escalate, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed a possible ceasefire deal with US envoys, stating the importance of ensuring the safety of residents in northern Israeli border areas displaced by recent hostilities.
Since the outbreak of violence, over 60 people have been killed in northern Israel due to Hezbollah’s rocket attacks, while Lebanese authorities report that more than 2,800 people have died in Lebanon amid ongoing clashes.