Northern Skies Explode: Rocket Barrages From Lebanon Target Acre and the Krayot
Air raid sirens blared across Acre and the Krayot on Friday as Hezbollah launched a series of rockets in response to the elimination of their elite Radwan Force commander.
The northern border of Israel has entered a period of heightened aggression as Hezbollah terrorists launched a series of rocket and drone attacks targeting major population centers and military positions on Friday. Air raid sirens were activated in the coastal city of Acre and the Krayot region near Haifa, forcing thousands of residents into bomb shelters. The IDF had previously warned that increased fire was expected following the high-profile liquidation of a top terrorist leader earlier this week, and the military remains in a state of peak readiness for further escalations throughout the day.
According to the IDF Spokesperson, the Air Force successfully intercepted one of the incoming rockets, while several others fell in open areas, fortunately resulting in no casualties or significant damage in those specific locations. This latest barrage follows a month of relative quiet that was shattered on Wednesday when Israeli jets struck a headquarters in Beirut to eliminate Ahmad Ghalib Balut. Balut was the commander of the Radwan Force, Hezbollah's elite commando unit, and his death has prompted a vow of revenge from the Iranian-backed organization.
The violence on Friday has already taken a human toll, with the military announcing that three Israeli soldiers were wounded in separate incidents involving explosive drones and anti-tank fire. One soldier is reported to be in serious condition, while two others sustained moderate injuries during operations in southern Lebanon and along the border. Additionally, police in the Western Galilee were called to handle an unexploded suicide drone that was discovered on the roof of a local school, highlighting the persistent danger to civilian infrastructure.
Security officials revealed that the slain commander, Ahmad Balut, had been working closely with Iranian handlers to rehabilitate Hezbollah’s ability to carry out ground raids into Israeli territory. His primary mission was to rebuild the "Galilee Occupation" plan, which aimed to facilitate massacres and kidnappings similar to the October 7 atrocities. Balut had directed dozens of terror operations against Israeli troops in recent months, utilizing anti-tank missiles and sophisticated explosive charges to disrupt military movements in the border zone.
The war is also expanding geographically, with reports from the United Arab Emirates indicating that they too have come under direct fire. The UAE Ministry of Defense claimed its air defenses intercepted two ballistic missiles and three drones launched from Iran on Friday. This coordinated regional aggression suggests that Tehran is attempting to pressure U.S. allies while Hezbollah focuses its fire on northern Israel. Three people were reportedly injured in the strikes on the Emirates, further complicating the diplomatic efforts to maintain a fragile regional ceasefire.
The IDF has reiterated that the Radwan Force continues to operate under the direct funding and guidance of Iran with the explicit goal of harming Israeli civilians. In response, the military vows to continue its surgical operations to dismantle the unit's leadership and destroy the infrastructure they have spent years building. While the Home Front Command has not yet issued new restrictive orders for the general public, they have urged residents in the north to maintain a high level of vigilance as the military prepares for a potentially long weekend of retaliatory strikes.