Missile fire from Lebanon continued overnight into northern Israel, triggering sirens in Safed and communities across the Galilee, as fighting along the northern border showed no sign of easing despite a ceasefire with Iran entering its fourth day.
Hezbollah maintained its attacks toward Israel’s north following earlier strikes in Kiryat Shmona and interceptions reported over Acre and Karmiel. Israeli forces remain engaged in Lebanon, where an IDF reservist non-commissioned officer was seriously wounded by an explosive drone strike.
At the same time, reports from Gaza indicated casualties in an Israeli strike. Medical teams in the enclave said at least six people were killed and others wounded after the Israeli military targeted a police checkpoint in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Reuters.
Amid the regional tensions, U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that Iran still retains a significant missile capability. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal citing American officials familiar with the latest intelligence, Iran continues to possess thousands of ballistic missiles and retains the ability to reactivate launchers stored in underground facilities.
Officials said more than half of Iran’s missile launchers were destroyed, damaged or buried during the war, and that its overall missile stockpile has been reduced by roughly half. Still, Iran is believed to maintain thousands of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles that can be deployed from concealed or underground sites.
Iran is also believed to retain a limited number of cruise missiles capable of targeting vessels in the Persian Gulf or U.S. forces in the region if negotiations collapse. Concerns are growing in Washington that Iran could use the current ceasefire to rebuild parts of its missile arsenal.
Diplomatic efforts are underway to prevent further escalation. An Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad ahead of potential talks with the United States. Iranian state media reported that the delegation is expected to meet Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and that negotiations with Washington could begin later Saturday if Tehran’s preconditions are met.
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