9 Israeli Soldiers Injured After Hizbullah Fires at Church

Nine Israeli soldiers were injured in a Hizbullah rocket attack launched from southern Lebanon when they went to the aid of a civilian injured in an earlier Hizbullah attack that hit a church in the town of Iqrit in northern Israel, the Israel Defense Forces announced on Tuesday evening.

The IDF said Hizbullah had fired a rocket at and hit St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, injuring an 80-year-old man at prayer. When Israeli soldiers arrived to evacuate the wounded man, Hizbullah operatives fired an anti-tank missile at the church, injuring the soldiers. One soldier was said to be in serious condition.

“This attack is not only a clear violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, but also a violation of the freedom of worship,” the IDF later posted on X (formerly Twitter). Resolution 1701 calls for the full cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel.

The IDF said it was responding to the attack by firing upon the building from which the terrorists attacked the church.

IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that after firing the missile at the church, Hizbullah immediately launched an additional rocket into Israel from near a mosque in Yaroun in southern Lebanon. 

Iran-backed Hizbullah “follows the same extremist ideology as Hamas, firing from holy sites in Lebanon and Gaza and firing at holy sites across Israel,” Hagari said. 

“We are preparing for all scenarios should a diplomatic solution not be found to Hizbullah’s constant violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.”