The IDF announced Saturday evening that a strike killed several Hezbollah gunmen who had wounded an officer overnight in the Ali Taher ridge area of the Security Zone. The officer was moderately injured in the initial gunfight, the military said.
The IDF confirmed Saturday evening that a strike killed several Hezbollah gunmen who had wounded an Israeli officer in the Ali Taher ridge area of the Security Zone in southern Lebanon. The officer was moderately injured in the initial overnight gunfight, the military said. The confirmation came hours after the clash was first reported.
As The Zioneer reported at 14:18 Jerusalem, Israeli forces had engaged Hezbollah operatives in the area. Initial reports indicated a soldier had been wounded. By 14:18, further details emerged: Commando Brigade forces were holding ground over dozens of trapped Hezbollah terrorists in underground tunnels. At 18:56 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that IDF forces had eliminated several Hezbollah operatives in the same area. The latest IDF statement clarifies that the killed gunmen were the ones who attacked the officer, and that they were struck after the exchange of fire.
The incident is the latest in a series of ceasefire violations by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. As The Zioneer has reported, Hezbollah has repeatedly breached the truce, including attacks on IDF forces. On Jun 26, a grenade attack wounded four soldiers; on Jun 19, heavy fighting erupted near Kfar Tebnit and Mount Ali Taher, with Hezbollah claiming an ambush. The IDF maintains the Security Zone to prevent the group from rebuilding its military infrastructure near the border.
The exact number of gunmen killed in the strike has not been disclosed. Earlier reports of dozens of Hezbollah terrorists trapped in underground tunnels beneath IDF positions, cited by Israeli media, have not been addressed in the latest IDF statement and remain unverified.
7 developments
- ConfirmedIDF soldier killed in clash with Hezbollah operative in southern Lebanon
- DevelopingIDF troops engage Hezbollah cell in southern Lebanon, kill two operatives
- DevelopingIDF: 4 troops wounded in Hezbollah encounter in southern Lebanon, officer moderately
- DevelopingIDF kills several Hezbollah operatives in ambush in southern Lebanon
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