BEIRUT (AFP) – Hezbollah said on Thursday its fighters were battling Israeli forces in south Lebanon, as a military source on the ground said Israeli troops were slowly advancing while “systematically destroying” border towns.
Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 when Iran-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel to avenge the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Israel responded with intense strikes on Lebanon that have killed at least 968 people and displaced over a million more, according to local authorities, and by launching ground operations in the south.
In a statement, Hezbollah said its fighters had ambushed Israeli troops entering the border town of Taybeh and destroyed a tank.
“The enemy then attempted to continue its advance” from a nearby area, but fighters “again targeted them with guided missiles, scoring direct hits and destroying five Merkava tanks,” Hezbollah added.
“Enemy soldiers were seen fleeing the area of engagement.”
The Israeli army announced on Monday that it had launched “limited” ground operations in Lebanon.
A military source in south Lebanon told AFP that the Israeli army was advancing slowly and “systematically destroying” the border villages it enters.
