---

A day when life completely stops in Israel, but the escalation on the northern front of the Jewish state has broken the usual taboos, with non-stop alerts over the past few hours about mutual attacks between the Israeli army and Hezbollah.

• One of them was a missile system commander… Israel kills Hezbollah leaders

• Hezbollah Foils Israeli Ground Incursion Attempts

While Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement in Hebrew, is the holiest day in the Jewish faith and life usually comes to a complete halt in Israel, this year was different. As Friday evening fell, the alerts and statements from the Israeli army regarding rocket attacks did not cease.

What are the main features of this escalation? 

The Israeli army‘s Home Front Command continued to issue alerts about attacks, while the Israeli army unusually released statements about attacks it was carrying out in Lebanon and Gaza.

• Disengagement from Gaza: Did Hezbollah accept in private what it publicly rejected?

• Targeted by Hezbollah: What Do We Know About the Israeli Galilout Base?

Shortly after the start of Yom Kippur, which ends at sunset on Saturday, the Israeli army announced it had detected the launch of 80 rockets from Lebanon.

In a statement, it said: “Following the warnings triggered in the areas of Central Galilee, Haifa Bay, Ha’amakim, Upper Galilee, and Western Galilee, about 80 rocket launches were detected from Lebanese territory. Some were intercepted, and others fell in various locations.”

• Will Iran Abandon Hezbollah for Its Regional Interests?

• Hezbollah and Revolutionary Guard Experts under Houthi Suspicion: New Arrangements in Yemen

Later, the Israeli army issued another statement saying: “The air force attacked a number of rocket-launching platforms belonging to Hezbollah, from which rockets were fired earlier today towards the north of the country.”

After three hours of sirens sounding in various parts of northern Israel, the army said in a statement: “Regarding the warnings activated in the Upper Galilee, several rockets were launched from Lebanese territory, but they did not cross into Israeli territory, and no injuries were reported.”

• Caesarea under Fire: Hezbollah Rockets Near Netanyahu’s Home

• Hezbollah Engages in Violent Clashes with Israeli Army near Border

Less than an hour later, another Israeli army statement said: “Alerts were triggered regarding the infiltration of a hostile aircraft in several areas of the central region; details are under investigation.”

Ten minutes later, the army added: “Interception attempts were made, and details are still being examined. Additional explosions may be heard, resulting from either interceptions or falls.” However, twenty minutes later, it became clear that the incident was more significant than the Israeli army had initially anticipated.

• The Sole Survivor of Hezbollah’s Leadership: Who Is Abou Ali Reza?

• A $7 Million Bounty on Its Leader: What Is Hezbollah’s Most Dangerous Unit, “The Shadow Unit”?

In a new statement, the Israeli army announced: “Following the alerts triggered in the center of the country, two drones were detected crossing the border from Lebanon.”

It added: “The two drones were monitored from the moment they entered the airspace, and the air force successfully intercepted one of them.”

The Israeli army stated: “At this point, a building was hit in Herzliya (in central Israel), but no human injuries have been reported. The incident is under investigation, and details are still being verified.”

• Hezbollah Faces Two Choices After Nasrallah’s Assassination: Crushing Retaliation or Defeat

• Gaza Setback and the Success of Israeli Spies: An Analysis of Hezbollah Infiltration

Israeli Broadcasting Corporation military correspondent Itai Bomental reported on the platform “X” (formerly Twitter): “Around 10:00 PM, alerts were triggered in the Sharon region regarding the infiltration of hostile drones. These two drones were explosive and had entered from Lebanon.”

He added: “A building was damaged, and power was cut off in the area,” noting that “the penetration of two drones from Lebanon into the central region, covering at least 100 kilometers, is extremely concerning.”

• Israel Considers Ceasefire with Hezbollah While Continuing Escalation

• Can Hezbollah stand up to Israel? Iranian President expresses doubts

What do we know about Yom Kippur? 

Israeli Broadcasting Corporation explains that Yom Kippur is:

• The holiest day in Jewish religious holidays and rituals.
• A fast that lasts approximately 26 hours, mostly dedicated to prayers, supplications, and asking for forgiveness from God Almighty.
• A day when all public and private transportation, as well as airports, ports, and border crossings, completely shut down across the country.
• All public institutions and services, except emergency and security services, are closed.
• Likewise, all printed, radio, and television media cease operations.

• Israel Urges Lebanese Citizens to Immediately Move Away from Hezbollah Sites

• Heaviest escalation between Hezbollah and Israel puts Lebanon on the brink of war

It added: “The police have completed their preparations for Yom Kippur, and thousands of police officers, border guards, and volunteers have been deployed in sacred places, recreational areas, beaches, and parks.”

For the first time, rabbis allowed mobile phones to remain on to receive alerts from the Israeli army‘s Home Front Command.