The Israeli military announced on Thursday that five of its soldiers were killed during ongoing ground operations in southern Lebanon.
This raises the total number of Israeli soldiers confirmed dead to 19 since the launch of ground operations targeting Hezbollah forces in late September.
The brief military statement confirmed that the five soldiers lost their lives in combat in southern Lebanon but did not provide further details on the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Since the start of these ground operations, Israel has been engaged in intense clashes with Hezbollah, the powerful militant group based in Lebanon.
The region has seen a spike in violence as both sides continue to engage in military strikes, escalating fears of a wider conflict.
The Israeli ground campaign, launched in response to increased missile attacks and provocations from Hezbollah, has focused on dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure near the Israel-Lebanon border.
This operation marks one of the most significant escalations between the two sides in recent years, drawing international concern over the potential for a full-scale conflict.
