The son of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was lightly wounded Friday when Hezbollah militants fired a rocket at an Israel Defense Forces position near the Lebanon border, injuring eight soldiers in total.

Five soldiers from the Givati Brigade suffered serious injuries, while three others, including Smotrich's son, sustained light wounds in the strike, which occurred despite a prior alert that left troops unable to reach shelter in time. All were evacuated to a hospital for treatment, with Smotrich's son reported in stable condition.

The Religious Zionism party, to which Smotrich belongs, confirmed the son was hurt during military activity on the border and described his injuries as light. Israeli media outlets reported the news shortly after the incident on March 6.

The attack came amid escalating hostilities on Israel's northern front. Hezbollah has launched repeated rocket barrages into northern Israel since breaching a November 2024 ceasefire agreement, prompting mass evacuations of border communities and extensive IDF operations in southern Lebanon. The IDF has struck over 500 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in recent days, including rocket launchers, command centers, and infrastructure linked to the Iran-backed group, while expanding ground incursions deeper into Lebanese territory.

On the same day, Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut's southern suburbs and other areas, killing at least five in Sidon and contributing to broader casualties from the campaign. Hezbollah framed its attacks as retaliation for Israeli actions and the recent killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Footage circulated online showing Smotrich, a member of the security cabinet, blessing his son the day before the soldier deployed to the border area. No immediate political reactions or statements from Smotrich were detailed in reports, though his office noted the family's relief at the light nature of the injuries.

As of Wednesday, no updates indicated any change in the son's condition, with Israeli sources consistently describing the wounds as minor. The incident underscores the ongoing risks faced by IDF troops as Israel seeks to neutralize Hezbollah threats and enable the return of tens of thousands of displaced northern residents.