4 Israeli soldiers were killed in a Hezbollah drone strike and dozens of others were injured (NPR)

TEL AVIV – The Israeli army said that four soldiers were killed and seven others were seriously injured in a drone attack by Hezbollah that targeted an Israeli army base near the city of Binyamina in central Israel.

Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based armed group backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for the attack. Hezbollah said the attack, which occurred on Sunday near Binyamina, came in response to the Israeli raid on Beirut on Thursday, which killed 22 people and wounded more than 100 others.

Israeli rescue services said the attack injured 61 people in total, including several in critical condition. All the injured were transferred to hospitals for treatment.

Israeli media said that two drones were launched and that the Israeli anti-missile system intercepted one of them. It was not clear why the other ship was not intercepted.

The United States said earlier on Sunday that it would send an air defense system known as the High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to help Israel defend itself, along with the personnel needed to operate it, following an Iranian missile attack on the country. About two weeks ago. The Pentagon did not provide any details regarding when the system would arrive.

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging regular fire across the Lebanese border for more than a year, but the conflict escalated rapidly starting in September.