Jerusalem: The Israeli military reported that eight soldiers were killed during combat operations in Lebanon on Wednesday, marking the first fatalities since their forces crossed the border to engage Hezbollah. Earlier in the day, an Israeli army captain named Eitan Itzhak was confirmed dead in action, marking the initial loss for Israeli ground forces in Lebanon.
The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) announced in a statement that following the confirmation of the first soldier’s death, an additional seven soldiers had also been killed. According to military sources, Captain Eitan Itzhak Oster, 22 years old, was killed during fighting in Lebanon, although specific details were not provided.
Hezbollah claimed that its fighters were in conflict with Israeli troops who had “infiltrated” a village near the southern border. The group stated they had managed to push back Israeli soldiers who tried to enter the village of Adaysseh, located further northeast. This was reported as the first instance of fighting occurring on Lebanese territory during the recent escalation, which began when the Israeli army started heavy bombardment in southern Lebanon and conducted an airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
“This is only the beginning of the confrontation,” said Hezbollah spokesman Mohammad Afif during a media tour in the southern suburbs of Beirut, adding that “The resistance in the south is at its highest level of readiness,” in reference to Hezbollah fighters.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese army reported that Israeli forces had briefly crossed the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, stating, “Israeli enemy forces breached the Blue Line by approximately 400 meters into Lebanese territory” in two instances before withdrawing shortly after. Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli army urged residents to evacuate more areas in southern Lebanon, advising them to leave over 20 villages and towns in the region.
