Hezbollah claims killing ‘large number’ of Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon
Israeli soldiers operate in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights near the border with Syria, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, December 28, 2023. (Reuters Photo)
Hezbollah claimed on Wednesday that it had killed a “large number” of Israeli soldiers during direct clashes in the towns of Odaisseh and Maroun al-Ras in southern Lebanon, as fighting intensifies amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Lebanese group.
Hezbollah accuses Israel of ‘covering up’ casualties
The head of Hezbollah’s media office, Mohammad Afif stated the group had inflicted significant casualties on Israeli forces but accused Israel of “covering up” the losses.
“We inflicted a large number of fatalities among the enemy’s forces during clashes that took place today in the towns of Odaisseh and Maroun al-Ras in southern Lebanon, but there is a cover-up from the enemy,” Afif told reporters, adding that Hezbollah remains at “the highest levels of readiness.”
Israeli soldier killed in south Lebanon
Israel has also reported casualties from the conflict. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the death of an officer who was killed during fighting against Hezbollah, the first fatality of Israel’s ground operation in Lebanon.
The soldier is named as Cpt. Eitan Itzhak Oster, 22, a team commander in the Egoz Commando Unit, from Modi’in. Oster was killed during a battle with Hezbollah operatives in a village in southern Lebanon.
Oster is the first Israeli soldier publicly reported to have died in the latest incursion into Lebanon.
Israel began heavy airstrikes against Hezbollah targets across Lebanon in late September, with Israeli officials reporting the destruction of numerous Hezbollah positions.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) began their ground invasion into southern Lebanon on Tuesday, aimed at targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure.
Escalating cross-border warfare
The fighting between Hezbollah and Israel has escalated since the start of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Hezbollah has responded with cross-border attacks, while Israel has retaliated with airstrikes and now ground operations.
Over 1,000 people have reportedly been killed in Lebanon, and tens of thousands have been displaced.
As the conflict continues to unfold, both sides have engaged in heavy rhetoric, raising concerns about broader regional implications.
Hezbollah’s leadership, including its chief Hassan Nasrallah, was reported killed in Israeli airstrikes earlier this week.
The airstrike that killed the Nasrallah was believed to create a power vacuum within group.
