Israeli forces battled Hezbollah militants in Lebanon on Wednesday, with Israel announcing the first death of a soldier since it launched cross-border raids.
Confirmation of fights in two border areas came hours after Iran launched its second-ever direct attack on Israel, prompting Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu to promise that the Islamic republic would pay for its “big mistake”.
Hezbollah backer Iran in turn said it would launch an even bigger attack if Israel makes good on its pledge to hit back, defying calls to de-escalate in a war that has already cost more than 1,000 lives in Lebanon since last week.
Israel shifted its focus last month from the war in Gaza, which was sparked by the October 7 attacks by Iran-backed Hamas, to securing its northern border with Lebanon, where it is fighting Hezbollah.
A day after the Israeli military said its troops had started “targeted ground raids” in southern Lebanon, it announced the first death of a soldier in combat across the border since the Israel-Hezbollah war erupted.
Israel kept up its bombardment of Hezbollah’s main bastion in south Beirut, where it dealt the militant group a seismic blow last week by killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah in a massive strike.
Hezbollah said it forced Israeli soldiers to withdraw after they attempted to enter a border village, and that its fighters were clashing with troops in another area. It said it also targeted an Israeli unit with an explosive device.
The Lebanese army said Israeli troops had staged two brief incursions before withdrawing, adding one of its soldiers had been wounded in an Israeli drone strike.
The Israeli military told residents to evacuate more than 20 areas in south Lebanon, a day after issuing a similar call.
It also said it was bombarding Hezbollah targets in Beirut, with a Lebanese security source saying Israel had hit the city’s southern suburbs repeatedly overnight.
Reporters heard about 20 explosions coming from southern Beirut, and smoke billowed over the area.
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