UPDATE - Israeli army says 5 more soldiers killed during battles in southern Lebanon

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS; EDITS THROUGH

By Anadolu staff

The Israeli army announced on Friday that five more soldiers have been killed in the ongoing battles in southern Lebanon.

In an official statement, the army identified the slain soldiers as Maj. (Res.) Dan Maori, Capt. (Res.) Alon Safrai, Warrant Officer (Res.) Omri Lotan, Warrant Officer (Res.) Guy Idan, and Master Sgt. (Res.) Tom Segal.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Ministry reported on Friday that 890 soldiers and security personnel have been killed since the onset of hostilities with Gaza and the broader region on Oct. 7, 2023.

In a statement, the ministry confirmed that “890 soldiers, police officers, and Shin Bet (General Security Service) personnel have died since the start of the war.”

Fatalities reportedly occurred in Gaza, northern Israel, southern Lebanon, and the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli army noted that the total number of soldiers killed since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023 has now reached 762, including 356 soldiers who died in battles within Gaza, while the figure does not include police and Shin Bet casualties.

Israel has mounted a huge air campaign in Lebanon since last month against what it claims are Hezbollah targets in an escalation from year-long cross-border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah since the start of Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Israel expanded the conflict this year by launching an incursion into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi.