Israeli-Hezbollah Clash: Artillery Shelling, Airstrikes, and Casualties on Lebanese Border
On Friday, the Israeli army retaliated to a Hezbollah attack in the occupied Shebaa Farms district with artillery shelling and airstrikes on the Tumat Niha area in Western Bekaa.
An Israeli soldier was killed near the northern border.
Hezbollah had set up an ambush the previous night targeting an Israeli convoy with guided missiles, artillery, and rocket weapons, destroying two vehicles.
In response, Israeli forces launched airstrikes and fired over 150 artillery shells on the outskirts of Shebaa, Kfarchouba, and Helta.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting and killing an Israeli truck driver, Sharif Sawaed, near the Israeli-Lebanese border.
The Israeli army confirmed Sawaed's death, stating that he was working on infrastructure projects in the area when he was hit by a Hezbollah anti-tank shell.
In response, the Israeli army retrieved Sawaed's body through a complex operation and later launched airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, targeting villages, weapons depots, and a rocket launch pad.
Hezbollah also reportedly fired two anti-tank shells toward Shebaa Farms.
Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling in Lebanon resulted in the destruction of several houses in Shebaa, Kfarchouba, Yarine, and Dhayra.
The Israeli army launched an investigation into the incident, which took place near the border towns of Yarine and Jebbayn.
The army described it as a "difficult security incident." One Israeli newspaper reported that the engineering force was operating in the dark to avoid Hezbollah's missiles.
The head of the Metula settlement council expressed frustration over the damage to infrastructure and homes in the area.
Hezbollah has deepened security in the Lebanese border region, causing the deaths of 20 settlers and 344 people in total since the start of the war over 200 days ago.
Israeli drones have struck cars and targets in Lebanon, resulting in 1,359 casualties.
Hezbollah claims to have killed and wounded 2,000 Israeli soldiers, downed five drones, and targeted 69 command centers and two factories, while launching 4,000 missiles towards northern Israel.
The text reports that a group conducted 55 aerial attacks and resulted in the evacuation of approximately 230,000 settlers from 43 northern settlements.