Five soldiers from the reconnaissance unit of the Golani Brigade have been killed in southern Lebanon, where Israel is conducting a ground invasion. Hezbollah has announced a new phase of escalation in its conflict with Israel.
According to an Israeli army spokesperson, five soldiers were killed during clashes in southern Lebanon. An officer and two soldiers were wounded in the same engagement, while other soldiers sustained serious injuries in separate skirmishes across the region.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah has declared a new stage in its war against Israel, announcing the use of precision-guided missiles in its attacks. In a written statement, Hezbollah said: “In accordance with the directives of the leadership, a new phase in the conflict with the enemy Israel will begin, which will increase tensions and have repercussions in the coming days.”
Hezbollah also claimed that hundreds of its fighters are fully prepared to counter any Israeli ground assault on villages in southern Lebanon. The group noted that its attacks on Israel have intensified recently, including an increase in rocket fire, and confirmed for the first time that precision-guided missiles have been deployed.
The statement further claimed that 55 Israeli soldiers have been killed and more than 500 injured since Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon began. It also reported the destruction of 20 Merkava tanks, 4 military bulldozers, and an armored personnel carrier, as well as the downing of 2 Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The Lebanese Ministry of Health has reported that 2,412 people, including 104 children and 194 women, have been killed, and 11,267 injured, since October 8.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Israeli airstrikes on Beirut on September 27.
An estimated 100,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon due to Israeli bombardment. As migration from southern Lebanon to Beirut and the northern regions continues, the Lebanese government has announced that more than 461,000 displaced people have fled to Syria.
