Hezbollah claimed on Wednesday that its fighters had repelled advancing Israeli troops in clashes along the Lebanese border, a day after Israel said it had killed two successors to the Iran-backed militant group’s slain leader.
The Lebanese militant organization reported launching multiple rocket salvos against Israeli forces near the coastal village of Labbouneh and in eastern border areas, including Maroun el-Ras and the twin villages of Mays al-Jabal and Mouhaybib. Hezbollah stated its actions had successfully pushed back Israeli troops.
Israel’s military confirmed that Hezbollah fighters fired approximately 40 projectiles into Israeli territory on Wednesday, with some intercepted by air defenses. The attacks triggered sirens, sending Israelis to shelters.
In response, Israel conducted airstrikes, including targets far from the border combat zone. Lebanon’s health ministry reported four deaths and 10 injuries from a strike on Wardaniyeh, a town north of Sidon along the coast.
The escalating conflict has raised concerns about a potential wider Middle East war involving Iran and the United States. Israel has recently intensified its operations, carrying out assassinations of top Hezbollah leaders and expanding ground operations into southern Lebanon.
Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon has resulted in over 2,100 casualties, mostly in the past two weeks, and displaced 1.2 million people. Israeli officials maintain that strikes against Hezbollah are necessary to enable the return of tens of thousands of evacuated Israeli citizens.
The conflict’s impact is evident in Beirut, where burn victims from Israeli strikes are being treated at a specialized unit in Geitaoui hospital. Overnight, Israel bombed Beirut’s southern suburbs, claiming to have killed a Hezbollah figure responsible for budgeting and logistics.
As the situation deteriorates, fears grow that Beirut could face destruction on a scale similar to Gaza, prompting resident evacuations following Israeli warnings.
