The Times of Israel Daily Briefing IDF adds Hezbollah to decapitation campaign after it joins war
17 snips
Mar 2, 2026 
Emanuel Fabian, a military correspondent who covers Israeli defense and battlefield developments, breaks down Hezbollah’s rocket and drone assault and Israel’s targeting of Hezbollah leaders. He recounts the deadly Beit Shemesh strike and why interceptions failed. Healso covers U.S. casualties, strikes affecting a UK base in Cyprus, massive IAF sorties, and looming questions about a possible Lebanon ground operation and national safety measures.
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Hezbollah's Limited But Escalatory Entry Into The War
- Hezbollah entered the war by firing at least six rockets and two drones toward northern Israel, marking a limited but significant escalation.
- The IDF responded with dozens of strikes in Lebanon, including targeting senior Hezbollah leaders in Beirut and the Radwan force in the south.
Israel Shifts To Leadership-Focused Offensive Against Hezbollah
- Israel is shifting from reactive strikes to an offensive campaign aimed at degrading Hezbollah's leadership and capabilities.
- Emanuel Fabian names potential high-value targets, including new Hezbollah secretary-general Naim Qasem in Beirut.
Direct Impact On Synagogue Reveals Limits Of Bomb Shelters
- A ballistic missile struck a Beit Shemesh synagogue and its communal bomb shelter after air defenses failed to intercept it.
- The warhead (~500 kg) obliterated the building and penetrated the shelter, causing extensive blast and shrapnel damage to nearby homes.