Hezbollah repels incursion attempts, strikes Israel from north to south
Hezbollah said on Thursday its fighters were battling Israeli forces in south Lebanon, as a military source on the ground said Israeli troops were slowly advancing while "systematically destroying" border towns.
Hezbollah said it targeted overnight into Thursday Kiryat Shmona, Misgav Am, Dishon, Manara, Naharaya, Haifa and Kfar Giladi in north Israel and Israeli soldiers and Merkava tanks near the southern border towns of Houla, Taybeh, Aitaroun, Odaisseh, Rob Tlatine, Alma al-Shaab and Markaba with rockets, artillery shells and attack drones.
The group said it had repelled an attempt by Israeli soldiers to advance in Taybeh and Khiam, a town about six kilometers from the border that has witnessed fierce clashes in recent days.
In a statement, Hezbollah said its fighters had ambushed Israeli troops entering the border town of Taybeh and destroyed a tank.
"The enemy then attempted to continue its advance" from a nearby area, but fighters "again targeted them with guided missiles, scoring direct hits and destroying five Merkava tanks", Hezbollah added.
"Enemy soldiers were seen fleeing the area of engagement."
The Israeli army announced on Monday that it had launched "limited" ground operations in Lebanon.
Air raid sirens rang out late Wednesday across Israel from the north to the south following what Israeli media said was one or more missile launches from Lebanon.
The launch marked the deepest strike by Hezbollah into Israel since the Iran-backed group joined the Middle East war following Israel's killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
- 'Violent night' -
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported a "violent night" in Khiam and Taybeh, saying the towns were "targeted by several airstrikes and subjected to heavy artillery shelling that continued until dawn".
On Wednesday, Hezbollah said it had repelled an attempt by "Israeli enemy soldiers to advance" in Khiam.
In recent days, the group has reported targeting Israeli forces on the border with Lebanon and inside Lebanese towns such as Khiam.
The town overlooks part of southern Lebanon and northern Israel and was the first point into which Israeli forces advanced after the start of the war.
It was also the site of intense clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah during their last war in 2024.
The military source on the ground, who requested anonymity, said that Israeli soldiers "have almost captured the town".
"They advance one or two kilometers a day and take the time to systematically destroy the towns they enter, such as Kfar Kila or Aitaroun," he added.
"They bulldoze what is not destroyed by airstrikes or artillery" while "they are engaged in ground fighting against Hezbollah, whose men are fighting in small groups".
Israel has issued warnings to all residents south of the Zahrani River, more than 40 kilometers from the border, to evacuate, and has said it wants to create a buffer zone in Lebanon to protect residents of north Israel.
On Wednesday, the U.N. peacekeeping force said it was deeply concerned by a "violent escalation" in Lebanon, citing "intensified air and ground activity, and increased presence of Israeli forces inside Lebanese territory".
Source: Naharnet, Agence France Presse
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