At least seven Israeli soldiers were killed during intense battles along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, according to Israeli media reports on Thursday.
The clashes, which have escalated in recent days, mark a dangerous flare-up in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants.
The fighting has seen both sides exchange heavy fire, with the Israeli military conducting a series of airstrikes targeting areas in southern Lebanon.
Lebanese media outlets reported that Israeli warplanes carried out 17 air raids on Beirut’s southern suburbs and surrounding regions, including Baalbek in eastern Lebanon.
In southern Lebanon, Israeli strikes hit areas around Kfar Hamam, al-Housh, and al-Basateen. Additionally, Israeli artillery reportedly used internationally banned white phosphorus munitions to shell the outskirts of Ramyah and Beit Leif, two towns near the border.
The fighting on the Israel-Lebanon border comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group.
Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has long been a key player in Lebanon’s complex political and military landscape and has frequently clashed with Israeli forces along the volatile border.
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has heightened the risk of a broader regional conflict, drawing Hezbollah into sporadic engagements with Israeli forces in northern Israel.
