In one of the bloodiest attacks since the war between Israel and Hezbollah began in October, four Israeli soldiers were killed, and more than 50 others were injured by a Hezbollah drone strike on an army base in Binyamina, northern Israel. The attack, which took place on Sunday, was confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and first responders. It marked a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, occurring roughly 40 miles from the Lebanese border, far from the immediate frontlines.

The IDF confirmed that the drone, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), targeted the base near Binyamina, severely injuring seven soldiers. In total, 61 people were wounded, according to Israel’s emergency services. Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack, citing it as retaliation for Israeli strikes in Lebanon earlier that week, which killed 22 people. The group targeted the Golani Brigade, an elite IDF infantry unit, as part of their continued resistance efforts against Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon.

The attack raised significant concerns about Hezbollah’s drone capabilities, particularly given the depth of the strike into Israeli territory. Typically, Israeli air defense systems have been highly effective at intercepting UAVs, but this incident raised questions about how the drone managed to evade detection. This was not the only drone attack over the weekend. Earlier, the IDF reported intercepting another UAV launched from Lebanon, though it remains unclear if the two incidents were related.

The strike comes as the IDF continues its ground operations in southern Lebanon, aimed at neutralizing Hezbollah’s infrastructure. The Israeli military insists these operations are limited, but the growing intensity of the conflict suggests broader hostilities may be on the horizon. More than 1,500 Lebanese have been killed since Israel intensified its campaign in mid-September, according to local health authorities.

As the violence escalates, the international community has voiced concern. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently called for the withdrawal of UN peacekeeping forces from southern Lebanon, following multiple incidents involving UN personnel. Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed to prevent Hezbollah from regaining control of southern Lebanese villages. However, despite the IDF’s ongoing operations, Hezbollah continues to launch frequent rocket and drone attacks against Israel, complicating efforts to stabilize the region.