Illustrative image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) intensified strikes on Lebanon on October 3 as its troops struggled to advance due to the fierce resistance of Hezbollah.
Overnight, the IDF said that it struck 200 targets in southern Lebanon, including buildings used by Hezbollah, fighters, weapon depots, observation posts and other infrastructure. The military alleged that over 60 fighters of the group were killed.
Other Israeli strikes were reported in the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon and the southern Beirut suburbs of Dahieh with many civilians killed or wounded.
The IDF said that it struck Hezbollah intelligence and communications sites in Beirut. Members of the group’s intelligence division, surveillance equipment, headquarters and other infrastructure were targeted, according to the military.
From its side, Hezbollah said that its fighters clashed with Israeli troops attempting to advance in the direction of Fatima Gate as well as near the towns of Maroun al-Ras Yaroun. Several units were targeted with rockets, artillery and explosive devices.
The group also announced that it had shelled the gatherings and movements of the IDF in northern Israel and struck a Merkava main battle tank in the Natou’a. Hebrew media reported the launch of more than 70 rockets and multiple drones from Lebanon.
While the IDF has not yet acknowledged any losses, initial reports from Arab and Hebrew media indicate that at least four troops were killed.
In preparation for expanding ground operations in Lebanon, the IDF ordered civilians in an additional 25 towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately. The order covered the town of Nabatieh, one of the largest cities in southern Lebanon. Nabatieh and several other villages on the list are north of the Litani River.
Separately, the Lebanese army said that a soldier was killed in an Israeli strike on a military post in southern Lebanon, adding that soldiers fired back at the source of the fire. The Lebanese Red Cross said that four of its medics were wounded in the same strike.
The clashes on the Lebanese-Israeli border first broke out after the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, with Hezbollah and its allies launching near-daily attacks in support of the Palestinian enclave. Israel escalated its attacks on Lebanon starting from September 17 and on September 27 it assassinated the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nassrallah. The IDF officially announced the launch of a ground operation in Lebanon on September 30.
Overall, the confrontation between Hezbollah and IDF has so far resulted in 26 civilian deaths in Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights as well as the deaths of at least 30 soldiers and security officers. On the Lebanese side, at least 1,974 people have been killed, including more than 500 members of Hezbollah.
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