The Israeli military announced Wednesday that seven of its soldiers were killed in combat, a day after launching a ground incursion into southern Lebanon.
The announcement comes amid ongoing fighting between Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon, with both sides reporting clashes in separate statements.
Hezbollah claims its fighters killed and wounded an unspecified number of Israeli soldiers during the confrontations. The militant group said they detonated an explosive device as Israeli troops attempted to advance deeper into Lebanon toward the southern village of Yaroun.
“Our fighters successfully engaged Israeli forces attempting to penetrate Lebanese territory,” a Hezbollah spokesperson said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. The group did not provide a specific breakdown of the alleged Israeli casualties.
The Israeli military had earlier announced the death of its first soldier in the ground incursion but has not yet responded to Hezbollah’s latest claims.
