This Image Does Not Show Bezalel Smotrich Taking Shelter Following the Recent Hezbollah Attack

Misbar investigated the claim and found it to be misleading. The image is old and does not show Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich fleeing to shelters following the recent Hezbollah attack on Israel.

Israeli Government Officials Took Shelter in Bunkers on October 7

Media outlets published the image on October 7, 2023, claiming it showed Israeli government ministers rushing to shelters after sirens sounded in Tel Aviv amid escalating exchanges of fire between Palestinian resistance groups and the Israeli military. This followed the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood by Palestinian resistance factions on the same day.

Hezbollah Launches Attack on Israel

The image began circulating after Hezbollah announced on Sunday that it had launched an attack on Israel using numerous drones and rockets. This marked Hezbollah’s first response to the killing of leader Fouad Shukr in the Beirut suburbs last July.

Hezbollah stated that the new operation began with "a large-scale aerial assault using drones targeting deep into Israeli territory and a specific Israeli military objective that will be announced later."

In a follow-up statement after the attack, Hezbollah reported that "the number of rockets fired has exceeded 320, targeting enemy positions." Hezbollah also indicated that its attacks had hit and damaged 11 military bases and outposts in northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights.

Hezbollah Completes First Phase of Response to Shukr’s Assassination

Hezbollah announced in a statement that all offensive drones were launched at their scheduled times from all launch sites. These drones crossed the Lebanese-Palestinian border toward the designated target from multiple paths, marking the completion of the "first phase" of the response to Shukr's assassination.

Hezbollah added that Israeli claims of a preemptive strike and targeted attacks to thwart their offensive are "empty claims that contradict field realities and will be refuted in a speech by the party’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, later."

On Sunday, Israel announced preemptive strikes on Lebanon. The Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson stated, "We detected preparations by Hezbollah to launch rockets and missiles towards Israel. We acted to eliminate these threats. Air Force jets, under the direction of the Northern Command and Military Intelligence, have targeted Hezbollah positions that posed an immediate threat to the Israeli home front."

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This Image Does Not Show Israelis Fleeing to Shelters Following a Recent Hezbollah Attack

Outdated Video Falsely Shared as Fire in Kiryat Shmona After Recent Hezbollah Attack on Israel