Hezbollah Engages Israeli Forces in Eastern Lebanon Following Escalating Regional Conflict

Beirut. Hezbollah announced it is fighting Israeli forces who entered eastern Lebanon via helicopter, marking the second major physical confrontation in the recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Last week, the Iran-backed Hezbollah launched attacks into Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli airstrike, which drew Lebanon into a Middle East war.

Israel has continued airstrikes targeting Hezbollah even after the permanent period of 2024 ended, and has deployed ground troops to the border area. Hezbollah stated that approximately 15 Israeli helicopters were detected entering from the Syrian border and that its fighters took action against them.

Lebanon's national news agency reported intense clashes between those helicopters and soldiers in the outskirts of the town of Nabi Sheet. Two Hezbollah officials operating in the Beqaa region confirmed that one Israeli helicopter was downed.

Explosions and smoke were observed in Beqaa's southern suburb, a main Hezbollah stronghold. The Israeli military issued a brief statement saying it attacked Hezbollah infrastructure there. Additionally, Hezbollah reported artillery attacks and clashes against Israeli soldiers in border towns such as Tyre Debba, Odaiseh, and Aitaroun.

According to Lebanon's Health Minister Rakan Nasreddine, 394 people have died in Israeli airstrikes, including 83 children and 42 women. The Israeli military also confirmed the deaths of two soldiers in southern Lebanon, marking the first troop losses since the latest operation began on March 2.