As Israeli troops continue to invade southern Lebanon, the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah deals accordingly, responding to blows and targeting – even setting ablaze several Israeli battle tanks. This resulted in multiple deaths and injuries of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) men.
During the early hours of Oct. 17, Hezbollah announced hitting IDF's "second Merkava tank on the Labbouneh heights with a guided missile, burning it and killing and injuring its crew."
In a later statement, the militant group said: "The Islamic Resistance fighters targeted, at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday 10-17-2024, two Merkava tanks on the Labbouneh Heights with guided missiles, which led to their burning and the deaths and injuries of their crews."
The large blaze was recorded on video by some netizens on X, formerly Twitter. The X handle Arya shared a clip of the blazing Merkava tank.
"Footage shows an Israeli Merkava tank on fire in Labbouneh, South Lebanon, after being targeted by Hezbollah," the account posted.
?| Footage shows an Israeli Merkava tank on fire in Labbouneh, South Lebanon, after being targeted by Hezbollah. pic.twitter.com/tRkPP1xusy
— Arya - ???? (@AryJeay) October 16, 2024
A day before this, Hezbollah also said it killed and injured Israeli soldiers in direct clashes near the vicinity of Qaouzah town in southern Lebanon. The resistance group also launched rockets at several Israeli army border sites and troop gatherings, including in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms and the Misgav Am site.
"A force of 40 Israeli soldiers entered a point near the town of Ramya in southern Lebanon, where battles are taking place that have caused many casualties," Al Mayadeen reported on Wednesday evening.
Hebrew media reported later that at least five soldiers were killed, according to what was permitted for publication by Israeli media. At least 49 soldiers were wounded in an earlier incident on Wednesday, Hebrew media also reported.
With the massive attacks of Israelis and strong retaliation from Hezbollah, helicopters were seen transferring wounded from Lebanon to northern Israeli hospitals, including Haifa's Ram Bam hospital, throughout the afternoon of Oct. 17 and into the evening.
"Rambam Hospital in Haifa declared a mass casualty event and called for additional medical staff after eight helicopters landed there following an ambush by Hezbollah in the Ramia – Aita Al-Shaab – Qawzah triangle," Geo-Politico News reported on X.
Since Israel began ground incursions into southern Lebanon in early October, Hezbollah has repeatedly declared that it will attack, confront and kill the invading Israeli soldiers.
The aerial campaign is an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of its offensive on the Gaza Strip. Despite international warnings, Israel still expanded the conflict on Oct. 1 by launching an incursion into southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said months before his assassination that Israel would "have no tanks left" if it decided to launch a ground invasion of Lebanon. In his final speech, he also said that any ground invasion of Lebanon would turn into "hell" for Israel.
Netanyahu's house was hit by a drone causing superficial damage, but no casualties as Israel and Hezbollah trade attacks in Lebanon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s house was hit by a drone amid Israel and Hezbollah's trade of attacks in Lebanon on Saturday. The attack caused superficial damage and no casualties to Netanyahu's home in the seaside town of Caesarea.
According to Netanyahu's office, one of the prime minister's three homes was targeted by three drones, two of which were intercepted. Neither Netanyahu nor his wife, Sara, were home at the time.
Netanyahu then released a statement, saying: "The attempt by Iran’s proxy Hezbollah to assassinate me and my wife today was a grave mistake."
Angered Netanyahu promised that the "attackers" Iran and its Axis of Resistance would "pay a heavy price." He also said that his troops would continue to "eliminate the terrorists and those who the Iranian proxies."
Reports reveal that Israel's air raid system was not triggered by the drones, which were said to be lightweight which is why they were difficult to detect.
Hezbollah did not claim responsibility for the attack but said it fired several barrages of rockets at northern and central Israel, which killed a 50-year-old man in Acre.
The rocket attacks came after Hezbollah said on Friday it had entered a new phase of the full-scale war that began with Israel’s ground invasion of southern Lebanon earlier this month. The Shia group, allied to Iran, said it planned to send more guided missiles and explosive drones into Israel. (Related: Acting Hezbollah leader warns that more Israelis will be displaced if the IDF pursues its invasion of Lebanon.)
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