By Naim Berjawi
BEIRUT (AA) – Fierce clashes have erupted between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces since Tel Aviv launched a ground incursion into southern Lebanon two weeks ago.
The Lebanon group said it is actively resisting Israeli infiltration attempts at 15 border points across three primary battle axes.
These axes include the western sector near Ras al-Naqoura, Kfar Kila, and Odaisseh in the eastern sector, in addition to the central sector near the town of Ramyeh.
These 15 points are at the border towns of Aitaroun, Alama Ash-Shab, al-Labouneh, Blida, Meiss al-Jabal, Ad-Dhahirah, Yaroun, Ras al-Naqoura, Maroun al-Ras, Kfar Kila, Odaisseh, Ramyeh, al-Qaouzah, Rmaich, and Debel.
Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari on Sept. 30 said that the army had begun "limited and targeted" ground attacks against Hezbollah's infrastructure in southern Lebanon; however, Hezbollah denied any Israeli incursion at that time.
Following this development, the Israeli army declared several areas near the Lebanese border closed military zones, most notably the settlements of Metula, Misgav Am, Kfar Giladi, Doviv, as well as Al-Malikiyah, Shlomi, and Arab al-Aramsha.
- Key points of incursion
On Oct. 2, Hezbollah announced its first ground clash with the Israeli army, stating that its fighters repelled an Israeli force that attempted to infiltrate the border town of Odaisseh and forced it to retreat after “inflicting heavy losses.”
And on Oct. 11, the Lebanese group said that it had killed many Israeli soldiers in clashes in the towns of Odaisseh and Maroun al-Ras in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah also announced in several statements that it targeted Israeli soldiers attempting to infiltrate the town of Yaroun “with explosives” and destroyed Israeli tanks advancing towards Maroun al-Ras and other points.
For its part, the Lebanese army announced on Oct. 2 that the Israeli army had advanced 400 meters into Lebanese territory from the southern border before withdrawing.
It confirmed in a statement that the Israeli army entered the towns of Odaisseh and Yaroun, but “the occupying forces withdrew shortly after entering Lebanese territory.”
Since the beginning of the ground incursion until the evening of Oct. 14, the deepest point the Israeli army managed to infiltrate was the town of al-Qaouzah in the Bent Jbeil, which is 1.5 kilometers from the southern border.
On Oct. 8, the Israeli army raised its flag before withdrawing from a point that had been destroyed by airstrikes, less than one kilometer from the border, on the outskirts of the town of Maroun al-Ras.
Fierce clashes were also reported between Hezbollah and the Israeli army in border areas within the Bent Jbeil city, particularly in Aytaroun and Alama Ash-Shab, as well as in the towns of al-Labouneh, Blida, Meiss El-Jabal, Ad-Dhahirah, and Kfar Kila in Marjayoun.
- Israel targets UN peacekeepers
The Israeli onslaught has not only focused on Hezbollah but has also included the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), prompting widespread condemnation.
The Lebanese mission to the United Nations filed on Monday a complaint against Israel with the UN Security Council regarding its repeated attacks on UNIFIL, according to the state news agency NNA.
On X, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen claimed that the UNIFIL has not ensured the enforcement of UN resolutions, and also “serves as a shield” for Hezbollah and is "an Iranian proxy."
Israeli tanks on Sunday forced entry into one of UNIFIL's positions, in the latest violations and attacks by the Israeli military, leaving several peacekeepers injured.
Last week, four UNIFIL peacekeepers were injured by Israeli shelling on their posts in southern Lebanon.
On Saturday, all 40 countries contributing to the UNIFIL "strongly" condemned the Israeli attacks and called for an investigation.
UNIFIL was established as an interim force in 1978 to help restore peace in the region and to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
Regional tensions have escalated due to Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 42,400 people, mostly women and children, following a Hamas attack last year.
The conflict has spread to Lebanon, with Israel launching deadly strikes across the country, which have killed more than 1,500 people and injured over 4,500 others since Sept. 23.
*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala