The confrontation came amid heightened tensions as Israeli forces attempted an incursion into Lebanese territory.
Hezbollah revealed that a major ambush had taken place near the al-Jalil Panhandle, following reports of a "substantial security incident" earlier on Saturday. Although Israeli military censorship has restricted the flow of information from the combat zones, local media reported heavy gunfire and the deployment of attack helicopters near the Israeli settlement of Kiryat Shmona.
According to a statement released by Hezbollah's Military Media Unit, Hezbollah fighters detected an Israeli ground force attempting to enter Odeissah at approximately 11:00 pm local time on Friday. The force was ambushed, resulting in armed clashes. This region has witnessed intense fighting in recent days, with at least nine Israeli officers and soldiers killed earlier in the week from the 98th Division's Egoz and Yahalom Units.
During Friday's confrontation, a large explosion reportedly occurred among the Israeli forces, resulting in multiple casualties. The surviving Israeli troops were forced to retreat from the area. A renewed Israeli incursion followed at around 1:50 am on Saturday morning, with battles continuing through the early hours.
Meanwhile, in the nearby Israeli settlement of Yuval, sirens blared as Hezbollah launched a rocket attack at a gathering of Israeli troops at 2:13 am. Hezbollah also shelled Israeli forces stationed at the Kfar Giladi settlement, located at the tip of the al-Jalil Panhandle, opposite the Lebanese towns of Kfar Kila and Odeissah.
On the Western Axis of the conflict, Hezbollah targeted Israeli troops in Khilat Abir, near the border town of Yaroun, with a salvo of rockets at 2:20 am. Earlier field updates from Hezbollah indicated that ambushes on Friday had killed and injured over 20 elite Israeli troops, though the information has been tightly controlled by Israeli military authorities.
As clashes continue, the situation remains tense along the Lebanese-Israeli border, with further developments anticipated in the coming days. (ILKHA)