A soldier was killed in fighting in southern Lebanon, the military announced on Saturday, as Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi vowed to continue battling Hezbollah until displaced residents from the north can return home, and troops reportedly reached their deepest point so far in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah continued to launch drones and rocket barrages at northern Israel, including heavy fire toward Haifa, where there were several impacts.
Sgt. Ori Nisanovich, 21, of the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion, from Jerusalem, was killed fighting on Friday, the IDF said. According to an initial IDF probe, Nisanovich was killed during an exchange of fire with a Hezbollah gunman in a building in a southern Lebanon village. The operative was killed in the gun battle.
Nisanovich’s death brings the IDF’s toll in the ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon and during operations on the border to 44.
Saturday saw multiple barrages of dozens of rockets fired at the Western Galilee and Haifa Bay areas.
On Saturday evening, a barrage of 10 rockets was fired at Haifa, with several intercepted but others impacted areas of the city, including one that caused heavy damage to a synagogue building. Five people were hurt while running for shelter throughout the city, said first responders.