Hezbollah has reportedly killed at least 14 Israeli soldiers during recent ground clashes in southern Lebanon, with multiple injuries among Israeli troops, according to sources cited by Sky News Arabia. This escalation comes as Israel intensifies its military operations against the armed group.
Israeli Channel 12 confirmed the death of a third soldier from the Egoz Unit amid ongoing fighting, marking the deadliest day for Israeli forces on the Lebanon front in the past year. Hezbollah acknowledged that its fighters are engaged in confrontations with Israeli forces within Lebanon, representing the first such clashes since Israel began its ground offensive.
Israeli Army Radio reported that a commando unit was involved in an exchange of fire with Hezbollah fighters inside a building in a southern Lebanese village, necessitating the deployment of medical rescue teams to aid injured soldiers. During the rescue, Hezbollah continued to fire mortar shells, prompting a heavy response from Israeli forces.
While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the deaths of eight soldiers in a social media post, they have not verified the higher casualty figures. The deceased soldiers were identified as Captain Eitan Itzhak Oster, Captain Harel Etinger, Captain Itai Ariel Giat, Sergeant First Class Noam Barzilay, Sergeant First Class Or Mantzur, Sergeant First Class Nazaar Itkin, Staff Sergeant Almken Terefe, and Staff Sergeant Ido Broyer.
These events follow an Israeli infiltration into Lebanese territory, leading to heightened clashes along the border. The IDF announced that regular infantry and armored units are joining ground operations in Lebanon, escalating tensions following a significant missile strike by Iran, which raised fears of a broader conflict in the region.
Iran characterized its missile attack as the largest it has ever launched against Israel, asserting it would not conduct further strikes unless provoked. In response, both Israel and the United States pledged strong retaliation. The Israeli military indicated that some missiles fired by Iran landed within Israeli air force bases but caused no casualties or damage.
Additionally, Hezbollah claimed it targeted three Israeli Merkava tanks with guided rockets in the village of Maroun al-Ras.
In related developments, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for “urgent action” during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, warning that the situation in the Middle East is deteriorating rapidly. Guterres described the violence as “raging fires” that could escalate into an “inferno,” emphasizing the urgent need for a ceasefire as Israeli airstrikes continue across Lebanon.
He reaffirmed his strong condemnation of Iran’s recent missile attack on Israel, mentioning that he had previously faced a ban from Israel for not condemning the attacks swiftly enough.
Guterres stressed the urgent need to avert an all-out war in Lebanon, cautioning that such a conflict would have “profound and devastating consequences.” He urged for an immediate ceasefire to stop the escalating violence.
