The Hezbollah terror group targeted northern Israel with heavy rocket fire on Wednesday night and Thursday, the first day of Pesach, launching about 130 rockets.

Four people were lightly wounded in rocket hits, two in Kiryat Shmona and two in the Arab town of Bi’ina, and property was damaged in a number of areas.

Defense Minister Yisrael Katz held a situational assessment on Thursday evening in the underground command center (“the pit”), together with IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Head of Military Intelligence Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, Head of the Operations Directorate Maj. Gen. Itzik Cohen, Head of the Planning Directorate Maj. Gen. Hedi Zilberman and other senior defense officials.

Katz said: “I have a clear message for Naim Qassem, Secretary-General of the Hezbollah terrorist organization: You and your associates will pay a very heavy price for the intensified rocket fire at Israeli civilians as they sat down to celebrate the Seder night, marking the Exodus of the people of Israel from slavery to freedom, and throughout Peach — just as Amalek attacked the people of Israel when they left Egypt.

“You won’t live to see it, because you will be deep at the bottom of hell together with Nasrallah, Khamenei, Sinwar, and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil. But the Hezbollah terrorist organization that you now lead, and its supporters in Lebanon, will pay an extremely heavy price. The fire will not deter us — Israel’s home front is strong, and the IDF is strong and determined. There will be no return to the reality of the eve of October 7.

“Your patrons in Iran are shattered and will not be able to help you against the power of the IDF and the bravery and commitment of our soldiers to bring security to the north.

“We will cleanse Hezbollah and its supporters from southern Lebanon — with IDF security control throughout the Litani area — and we will pull out Hezbollah’s fangs across all of Lebanon.

“I want to offer words of support for the residents of the north and all Israeli citizens for their steadfastness, and call on them to follow Home Front Command instructions that save lives. I embrace our brave and devoted IDF soldiers. We have an amazing people and an army of lions.

“We will continue striking the terror regime in Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon — until all our objectives are achieved.”

(YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)