Aug 253 min read

Hezbollah thwarts my trip home—Israel thwarts Major Hezbollah Attack

I fell asleep last night with the news on. After five weeks of helping my parents get situated in their new reality, both in their mid-80s, I drifted off to sleep, knowing that I would be flying home to see my dear wife in the morning. At 1:30 AM, I woke up, and of course, the news was on. Usually, I would turn it off and go back to sleep, but I could not miss the headline. “Israel launches strike against Hezbollah in Lebanon.” I knew immediately that I would not be going anywhere in the morning. Air France has just emailed me confirming what I already knew—the flight is canceled.

What Happened

Of course, my travel plans are minor compared to what the people of Israel are going through. When I woke up again at 5:00 AM, I discovered that the headline the night before was not exactly right. Israel did just decide it would be a good idea in the middle of negotiations for a hostage release to bomb Lebanon. Our intelligence agencies had actionable intelligence that the terror group Hezbollah was about to unleash a massive attack on Israel.

Until now, it has “only” been “6,700 rockets, missiles, and explosive UAVs fired by Hezbollah at Israeli families, homes, and communities since October 8th,” according to IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari. The sad part of that statement is we can live with that. Most countries wouldn’t tolerate such belligerence. Ironically, while we have used extreme restraint in our responses, we are accused of genocide.

But if our intelligence had failed, as it did on October 7, I would be writing you a very different newsletter this morning, one of death and destruction.

Hagari added, “We removed a larger threat, likely a future threat in some areas, with an emphasis on the rockets at northern Israel. We foiled most of Hezbollah’s planned attack, and we intercepted many of the threats launched at Israel.”

How it Unfolded

At 4:40 AM in Israel, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) destroyed missile launchers that were aimed at Tel Aviv. The IAF used 80 fighter jets, and the attack lasted 20 minutes.

A second wave came immediately using 100 jets. The IDF estimates that they destroyed 6,000 launchers primarily for long-range missiles.

The New York Times is reporting that Hezbollah had planned their deadly assault for 5:00 AM. At 4:45 AM, earlier than they had planned and probably in shock from the Israeli preemptive strike, the terror group responded. Over the next 45 minutes or so, they fired 220 missiles and UAVs at Israel, causing one fatality and little damage, as sirens sounded over much of northern Israel. This video, posted on YouTube, shows Israel’s defense systems taking out missile after missile.

Elana could hear the IAF in the skies in Ashkelon, several hundred kilometers south of Lebanon, and said it sounded like hundreds of planes. She looked out the window before 5:00 AM and said everyone was turning on their lights to see what was happening.

Hezbollah, seeking to save face in the face of a devastating blow to their plans, claims a successful attack against Israel.

“The Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance began an air attack with a large number of marches towards the Zionist depth and towards a qualitative Israeli military target that will be announced later, and in conjunction with the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeting a number of enemy sites and barracks and Iron Dome platforms in northern occupied Palestine with a large number of missiles.”

Israel is reporting that shrapnel from an iron dome interception killed one naval officer in a patrol boat. Hezbollah says they are done with military action for the day and referred to their attack as “phase one.”

Targets

Hezbollah, according to the IDF, was targeting the Mossad (Israel’s famed intelligence agency) near Tel Aviv. In addition to the Mossad, Hezbollah planned to attack the base where several IDF intelligence units, such as the high-profile Unit 8200. There are other reports that they planned to target Ben Gurion Airport as well. New information is coming out every hour.

Pray Request