Four Israeli soldiers killed in clashes with Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon

Israeli Forces Report Four Soldiers Killed in Combat in Southern Lebanon

A statement from the Israeli military on Tuesday confirmed that four soldiers were killed during combat in southern Lebanon, where their forces are engaged in clashes with Hezbollah fighters. The incident occurred as part of a ground invasion launched by Israel into the country.

According to the army, three soldiers from the same battalion died during the combat, while another soldier was also killed and two others were wounded. This brings the total number of Israeli soldiers reported killed since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2.

The conflict escalated after a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran on that date. Since then, over 1,200 people have been reported killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon, with more than one million displaced, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.

In a separate incident, two UN peacekeepers were killed when an explosion destroyed their vehicle near the southern Lebanese village of Bani Haiyyan. Another peacekeeper was also killed by a projectile on Sunday near Aadchit el-Qsair.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to expand its invasion in southern Lebanon, aiming to extend a “buffer zone” along the Litani River. The Israeli government’s far-right ministers have urged Netanyahu to annex southern Lebanon as part of the military operation.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem stated that the group is trying to make the conflict costly for Israel. Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported from Beirut that the Israeli army has opened a new front in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, targeting roads linking towns known to be Hezbollah strongholds and strategic supply lines.

The escalation in Lebanon comes amid an ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, which has resulted in over 1,340 deaths since February 28.

Source: Al Jazeera