Israeli aircraft this afternoon targeted and destroyed several additional Hezbollah facilities in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah continues to threat to escalate the conflict and strike deep inside Israel.

The apparent naivety of the American government continues to surprise Israelis.

Blinken seemed surprised and disappointed that Hamas didn't accept a deal beneficial to itself and its continued rule in Gaza.

After so many years, do they still not understand that they aren't dealing with foes that play by Western-style logic and pragmatism?

Groups like Hamas are driven by ideology and hatred alone, and understand only power. As with the Nazis, the only way to solve the conflict is to defeat them.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to Netanyahu: "You can't hide any longer behind Benny Gantz. No more excuses."

He wants Israel to take harsher action in both Gaza and especially Lebanon.

Relatively quiet morning so far...

Protests in Israel, America and Europe for a "hostage deal now," especially at any cost, is what encourages Hamas to set impossible conditions, as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken lamented yesterday, which in turn puts a deal further out of reach.

Barrage of 100 rockets hit northern Israel. Two wounded in Katzrin on the Golan Heights.

Along with rockets, Hezbollah has launched dozens of suicide drones at northern Israel this afternoon.

The rockets have caused numerous wildfires, which are spreading faster than usual due to soaring temperatures.

Ok, I thought this was a joke when it first started going viral on Israeli and Arab social media channels this morning.

But it's real.

IDF soldiers on the northern border are using a trebuchet to burn away thickets along the border in order to deny cover to Hezbollah terrorists.

Egypt lied.

https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/tachles-with-aviel-egypt-lied-to-israel/

Hezbollah: "We will destroy the north [of Israel] and everyone in it. Our response [to the elimination of a top Hezbollah commander] will be to unleash unrelenting fire in order to subdue Israel."

IDF: "The situation in the north is grave and we will respond with great force."

While full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah appears imminent, a new civil war in Lebanon is also brewing.

Christians, Druze and Sunni Muslims are talking about taking up arms against Hezbollah to prevent the Iranian proxy from dragging the country to ruin.

Hezbollah isn't going to surrender without a fight, so war is likely necessary. But it should be clear that it won't be Israel vs. Lebanon.

Israel will have allies, or at least forces with common cause on the Lebanese side.

Katzrin, in the central Golan Heights.

Hezbollah attacks are creeping further and further south, making more and more of northern Israel unlivable.

2 wounded in Hezbollah anti-tank missile attack in Margaliot.

The Israeli cabinet will convene this evening to discuss the serious escalation in the north.