Breaking: Hezbollah Terrorist Crosses into Northern Israel and Opens Fire on IDF
An armed Hezbollah terrorist was shot and killed after crossing the northern border fence at Ramim Ridge and firing on IDF troops Tuesday afternoon.
An armed Hezbollah terrorist was eliminated this afternoon after approaching the northern border fence in the Ramim Ridge area and opening fire on IDF forces operating in the sector, the IDF confirmed.
The terrorist was armed with a rifle and a knife.
The head of the Margaliot moshav has confirmed that the Hezbollah terrorist successfully crossed the border fence before being shot and killed inside Israeli territory.
No Israeli casualties were reported.
The IDF is now checking it was a lone terrorist or a terrorist cell who carried out the shooting. Many security forces are en route to the scene.
There is a serious concern that the terrorist(s) emerged from a tunnel. The development significantly escalates the incident, raising the possibility that additional terrorists may have crossed into Israeli territory through an underground passage. Forces are combing the area as the operation remains ongoing.
The incident prompted the activation of the “Abir Layla B” alert protocol, a security readiness procedure for suspected terrorist infiltrations in the area.
Sources close to Hezbollah said that there were at least 2 terrorists, one who was shot after approaching a settlement and another who managed to infilitrate. This has not been confirmed by anyone.
Following the incident, the Upper Galilee Regional Council issued a series of directives to residents in the area:
Residents of Misgav Am, Margaliot, and Manara were instructed to follow the guidance of their local security coordinators, remain inside their homes, and avoid moving around their communities.
Residents of all other kibbutzim under the regional council are currently operating under routine conditions with no special civilian directives in effect.
Road 886 from Yiftach to Manara has been closed to traffic, and the Tel Hai Junction on the ascent to Ramim Ridge has also been sealed off.
Helicopters and fighter jets are now operating at the Northern border.
The IDF Spokesperson issued the following statement:
"A short time ago, an initial report was received of gunfire toward IDF forces operating in the Ramim Ridge area. The forces returned fire and eliminated a terrorist in the area. There are no casualties among our forces. The incident is still ongoing. IDF forces are continuing search operations, with IAF aircraft scrambled to the area. The IDF is in ongoing contact with local authorities."
UPDATES
15:30 - The security establishment has received an initial indication regarding the presence of additional terrorists in the area of the incident.
15:31 - Galei Tzahal correspondent Doron Kadosh noted that the incident is highly unusual, particularly given that IDF forces are currently holding a security strip several kilometers deep inside Lebanese territory, directly opposite the Ramim Ridge area.
15:35 - Unverified reports suggest that two terrorists have been eliminated so far, including one who managed to cross into Israeli territory and was killed approximately 100 meters from the community of Manara. Searches are currently being conducted in the area due to concerns over additional terrorists.
This follows an incident yesterday at 23:45p.m, in which terrorists attempted to infiltrate the Western Galilee and were eliminated about 20 meters from the border, an event that was kept from the public.
15:44 - The IDF fears that the terrorist had been hiding in the area for a long period of time, amid suspicions that a cell is currently roaming around the location and may have emerged from a tunnel.
15:48 - The terrorist who infiltrated into Israeli territory was found wearing camouflage uniforms and Crocs (shoes). This specific detail is being investigated, alongside the possibility that he spent an extended period inside a tunnel or an underground facility prior to the infiltration.
16:17- The IDF is now searching for two additional suspects believed to have accompanied the eliminated terrorist.
The tunnel from which the terrorists emerged penetrated into the residential zone of the confrontation line communities - a detail the IDF is emphasizing as it underscores the exceptional nature of the incident.
Elite IDF commando forces have been scrambled to the north.
16:19 - In the same incident, a second terrorist, who was armed with a sniper rifle and located inside Lebanese territory, opened fire on Israeli forces and was also eliminated.
17:34 - Initial IDF probe: The Hezbollah gunman who opened fire by the Lebanon border did not breach Israel’s security fence.
According to the IDF, he operated in the area between the international border and the fence before being shot by IDF troops. His body was found inside an Israeli military zone west of the barrier.
In other words, he entered Israeli territory but did not cross the border fence itself. (Open Source Intel)
Kadosh said, that to the best of his recollection, the last time terrorists infiltrated into Israeli territory from Lebanon was two and a half years ago in January 2024. In that instance, a terrorist cell crossed into an Israeli enclave in the Har Dov area where there is no security fence, and the operatives were eliminated by IDF reserve forces.
However, an incident like today's, where terrorists actually breached the security fence into Israel and reached a civilian area near local communities, has not occurred since the beginning of the war in October 2023, a period that saw several northern border infiltrations and exchanges of fire with the IDF.
Kadosh notes that this makes today's breach an unprecedented event since the early days of the war.