Operation 'Al-Asf Al-Ma'koul': Hezbollah Launches Widest Missile Attack on Northern Israel

The Lebanese Hezbollah announced the launch of a large-scale military operation dubbed 'Al-Asf Al-Ma'koul' (The Eaten Straw), targeting strategic sites and Israeli settlements in the Galilee and Haifa. The past hours witnessed the launch of dozens of missiles described as the largest and most intense barrage since the start of the current escalation, leading to air raid sirens sounding in wide areas of occupied northern Palestine.\n\nField sources reported that the missile barrages directly targeted the settlements of Kiryat Shmona and Nahariya, in addition to sensitive military installations. Targets included the 'Misgav' base and the 'Yodefat' military industries company located northeast of Haifa, with the party confirming the use of specialized missile salvos in this concentrated attack.\n\nIn a simultaneous field development, missile shelling struck the 'Ammiad' base north of Lake Tiberias and the 'Shimshon' base to its west, reflecting an expansion in the geographical targeting scope. Hebrew media sources estimated the number of missiles that crossed the border at over 100, confirming that defense systems faced a significant challenge in countering this complex attack.\n\n"Al-Asf Al-Ma'koul" carries deep religious and military connotations, as the party drew the name from Surah Al-Fil (The Elephant) in the Holy Quran, which describes the destruction of Abraha's army and their transformation into scattered debris. Through this symbol, the party aims to emphasize its ability to inflict comprehensive destruction on Israeli forces and military infrastructure in response to the massacres committed against civilians in Lebanon.\n\nOn the humanitarian front, Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nasser El Din announced a heavy toll from the ongoing Israeli aggression, with the number of martyrs rising to 634, including 91 children. The number of injured also exceeded 1586, amidst continued fierce airstrikes targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut and various areas in the South and Bekaa.\n\nOn the ground, occupation forces continue their attempts at ground incursions, which began early this March, in border points in the western and central sectors. These attempts are met with fierce resistance from Hezbollah fighters, while Israeli aircraft continue to destroy residential towers and alleged missile launch platforms in Lebanese border villages and towns.\n\nOn the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding intensive security consultations with army commanders and intelligence agencies to determine the next steps. Reports emerged that the occupation is considering striking targets belonging to Lebanese government infrastructure, in an attempt to pressure the popular base and the official Lebanese stance to halt missile attacks.\n\nMilitary analysts believe that these attacks may include the use of advanced missile models such as 'Fateh' and 'Zelzal' to deplete Israeli air defenses. These operations coincide with a state of regional anticipation, especially with reports indicating coordination in military operations aimed at dispersing the interception capabilities of the 'Iron Dome' and 'David's Sling' systems.\n\nFierce confrontations continue amidst international warnings of the region sliding into an uncontrollable comprehensive war. While Hezbollah insists on linking the cessation of its operations to the cessation of aggression against Gaza and Lebanon, Israel continues its military escalation, threatening to expand the scope of ground and air operations to include vital facilities deep within Lebanese territory.\n\nThe phrase 'Al-Asf Al-Ma'koul' comes from the Holy Quran to denote complete destruction, which is what the party intended by naming the operation this way.