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Military authorities in Israel said on Wednesday that eight soldiers had been killed in “intense fighting” with Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon, three days after it launched ground operations in the country.
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, all fell during combat against Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon,” Israel Defense Forces posted on their official X handle.
The update on the ongoing ground raids came almost a year after Israel launched its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the Iran-backed group’s Oct. 7 terrorist attack, prompting Hamas’ ally Hezbollah to start firing rockets at northern Israel.
Though, this marks the first reported casualties within Lebanon since Israel’s military invasion started just a day earlier.
As the IDF intensifies its operations, military officials report the use of “precision-guided munitions and close-range engagements,” indicating a deeper push into Lebanese territory.
The clashes with Hezbollah militants have raised alarms about the potential for further regional instability.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the situation, issuing a strong warning to Iran, stating, “Iran will pay.” This warning follows reports of Iran firing approximately 180 missiles at Israel on Tuesday, adding to the mounting tensions in the region.
The ongoing violence has inflicted severe consequences on Lebanon, with officials estimating over 1,000 fatalities in the past two weeks and nearly one million residents displaced as the conflict continues to escalate.
The situation in Gaza is similarly alarming, as the Hamas-run health ministry reports that recent Israeli airstrikes on the Khan Younis area have resulted in at least 51 deaths.
