The Civil Defense Forces - Islamic Health Authority in Lebanon mourned two of its members who were killed in a deliberate Israeli attack on the organization's headquarters in the border town of Blida, in South Lebanon. 

An Israeli airstrike on a healthcare center in the southern town of Blida killed two paramedics.

Hussein Mohammad Khalil and Mohammad Yaaqoub Ismail fell victim to Israeli brutality that does not even spare healthcare systems, ambulances, and personnel. #Lebanon's Health… pic.twitter.com/3yqYsKWJvA

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 23, 2024

The two paramedics mourned by the Islamic Health Authority were martyr Mohammad Yaaqoub Ismail, born in 1994, from the town of Blida, and Hussein Mohammad Khalil, born in 1997, from the town of Bar Aashit.

Israeli warplanes directly targeted the humanitarian organization's headquarters destroying the building, equipment, and several ambulances.

The Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon condemned the aggression, adding that these repetitive strikes on health institutions breach international law and conventions.

In the same context, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah mourned one of its fighters, martyr Mohammad Hassan Tarraf, "Ahmad", who was martyred on the path to al-Quds in the airstrike on Blida.

Hezbollah's two-phased response

The aggression which occurred late on Thursday night was quickly followed by a response from the Islamic Resistance, whose leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, promised to respond to any aggression on civilians and civilian institutions and infrastructure.

In their initial response, at 11:30 pm on Thursday night, Hezbollah fighters launched a barrage of rockets toward the "Ma'aleh Golan" Barracks in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. Ten hours later, Hezbollah announced another operation in response to the Israeli aggression on Blida, revealing that its fighters launched two suicide drones targeting the Israeli military's regional command headquarters in "Kiryat Shmona". The Resistance confirmed that the two drones precisely impacted their intended targets.

People defy Israeli threats, rally for funeral processions

In the meantime, a large number of border town residents gathered in al-Khiam and Blida to take part in the funeral processions for the martyrs who were killed in Israeli strikes on Thursday.

"When the locals got wind of Israel's attack on the funeral procession in Blida, they rallied in even greater numbers to participate."

- Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South #Lebanon, Ali Mortada https://t.co/A6X2JWWxyy

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 23, 2024

Israeli forces attempting to terrorize those who arrived in Blida launched a strike near the vicinity of the Blida cemetery, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported. However, our correspondent said that a larger number of mourners headed to the funeral procession in clear defiance of the Israeli aggression.

"We do not fear Israel, and we shall continue to tread the path of martyrs and liberating al-Quds."

- A participant during the funeral procession of the martyrs killed by "Israel" in the town of Blida, southern #Lebanon https://t.co/6b15LjHeNm

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 23, 2024

Israeli plots to terrorize the people of South Lebanon fail

On Thursday, Hezbollah launched a total of 12 operations against Israeli occupation forces and military assets across the Palestinian-Lebanese border. Of those 12 operations, six came in response to Israeli aggression in Lebanese towns and direct attacks on civilians in border villages.

In recent weeks, the Israeli occupation has intensified deliberate attacks on civilians in South Lebanon, which some analysts believe comes in a broader escalation aimed at terrorizing Lebanese civilians. However, the Lebanese Resistance has not backed down from delivering painful responses to the Israeli occupation, targeting several groupings of Israeli soldiers in Israeli settlements, as well as Israeli military command headquarters and barracks.

The CEO of the "Metulla" settlement's fruit factory Benny Katz who oversees the operation of one of the largest fruit and vegetable suppliers in the area, said that a recent attack from Lebanon had caused severe damage to the factory, which is expected to lead to a surge in prices and result in huge economic damage and loss to in "Israel".

The Israeli website Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Katz as saying that the factory used to produce 24,000 tons of fresh fruit annually, however, the hit rendered it entirely dysfunctional and unfixable, describing the situation as "very terrible". Although Israeli settlers have rushed to media outlets to decry material damages, Israeli authorities and Israeli media, have exercised deliberate silence regarding the number of military casualties who fell on the northern front.

However, Hezbollah's authentication of its operations has confirmed a number of casualties much higher than reported. In fact, the group estimates that in 961 operations, it was able to kill or injure more than 2,000 soldiers. Since then, the number of casualties among Israeli soldiers is expected to have risen, as the group surpassed 1,000 operations launched against Israeli occupation forces on February 9.

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