BEIRUT: Israeli military on Thursday said it killed 15 Hezbollah fighters in an airstrike on southern Lebanon, as the Lebanese movement said it thwarted an Israeli advance into Lebanese territory amid escalating tensions along the border.
Earlier this week, Israel announced this week that its forces had launched “ground raids” into southern Lebanon, after days of heavy bombardment on areas across the country where Hezbollah holds sway.
The recent Israeli attacks have resulted in over 1,000 fatalities, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, and have displaced hundreds of thousands in the country.
The Israeli military said it has targeted around 200 Hezbollah positions across Lebanon. An Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in Bint Jbeil and killed at least 15 people.
Hezbollah said that it successfully repelled an Israeli forces advance at Fatima’s Gate on the border. The Lebanese group has also increased its cross-border operations, launching rockets into Israeli territory as retaliation for the bombardments affecting Lebanese civilians.
Meanwhile, The Israeli military on Thursday ordered residents in over 20 villages and the city of Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon to evacuate.
Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X, “The IDF (Israeli army) does not intend to harm you, and for your own safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and head north of the Awali River.” The statement included the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh.
Earlier in the day, Israel targeted a facility in downtown Beirut, resulting in the deaths of seven emergency service workers. The explosions reverberated throughout the city, with residents reporting buildings shaking and columns of smoke rising into the sky.
On Thursday, Hezbollah reported that it had detonated explosives targeting advancing Israeli forces near the town of Maroun al-Ras. The Lebanese group claimed responsibility for repelling an attempted advance by Israeli troops at a border point known as Fatima’s Gate, asserting that its artillery fire effectively thwarted the incursion.
Hezbollah “repelled with artillery fire an attempt by enemy Israeli forces to advance at Fatima’s Gate”, it said.
On Wednesday, Israel reported the deaths of eight of its soldiers in confrontations with Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon.
These clashes coincided with Iran’s largest missile attack on Israel, further escalating tensions in the region. While Iran warned of stronger retaliation, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran was not seeking war.
Meanwhile, Israel continued bombing southern Beirut, causing widespread destruction and displacement. Hezbollah claimed to have forced Israeli soldiers to retreat, intensifying fears of an expanded conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has already displaced hundreds of thousands of people in Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran of consequences following a direct missile attack by Tehran targeting Israel.
The attack, described as the largest of its kind, prompted international concern, with US President Joe Biden reiterating support for Israel but ruling out military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Biden said that while Israel has the right to respond, any retaliation must be proportional, expressing concern over the broader consequences of targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an end to the “sickening cycle of escalation” in the region. The G7 group of wealthy nations has also called for a diplomatic resolution, although recent efforts to establish a ceasefire in Gaza have proven unsuccessful.
