Israeli President Herzog visits northern communities after Hezbollah attacks

International, Middle East, Politics

INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — March 10, 2026 — Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited northern Israel on Tuesday to comfort residents following recent Hezbollah attacks.

During the visit, Herzog met with the family of Staff Sergeant Maher Khatib, an engineering fighter who was killed in Lebanon a few days earlier. He offered condolences to Khatib’s widow, two daughters, and the Druze community, praising their resilience and contribution to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

Herzog began his tour at the Golan Regional Council’s emergency operations centre in Katzrin, where he observed preparedness measures alongside Council Head Yehuda Doha and his team. “I saw up close how they operate during an emergency—with professionalism, dedication, and great responsibility for the residents’ security,” he said.

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He later travelled to Majdal Shams to console Khatib’s family, describing them as “a noble family, grieving and in pain, that serves as a testament to the spirit of heroism and devotion—of the Druze community and of all IDF fighters.”

The president concluded his visit at an Iron Dome battery, where he praised commanders and air defence soldiers for their round‑the‑clock work intercepting rockets and protecting millions of Israelis.

The escalation follows Hezbollah’s attacks on northern Israel in response to ongoing Israeli and U.S. operations in Iran. Israel’s deployment of soldiers into Lebanon has displaced many civilians, with two Israeli soldiers killed in the fighting, including Staff Sergeant Khatib.