Hezbollah checks Israeli advance against southern Lebanon during fierce clashes

Hezbollah says its fighters engaged in ongoing clashes with Israeli forces in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil and surrounding border areas, repelling attempts by Israeli troops to advance into the areas.

In a series of statements issued by its Military Media, the Lebanese resistance movement said on Wednesday, the fighters "continued valiantly repelling all the attempts" by Israeli forces to take control of Bint Jbeil, while also confronting troops in other nearby villages.

The statements came amid the Israeli regime's incessant violations of a 2024 ceasefire agreement with the movement as part of which Tel Aviv was expected to end its deadly escalation targeting Lebanon.

Recently, Hezbollah's Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem said the breaches – which throughout several consecutive days beginning last Wednesday claimed the lives of hundreds of people, including women and children – was aimed at "masking" Tel Aviv's defeats on the battlefield.

Rocket barrages, drone strikes

According to the statements, Hezbollah carried out multiple retaliatory rocket attacks targeting Israeli positions and illegal settlements in the northern part of the occupied territories, including Metula, Kfar Giladi, Kiryat Shmona, Nahariya, and Avivim.

"In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy’s violation of the ceasefire agreement and its repeated attacks… the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the settlements with rocket barrages,” the group said across several statements.

It also reported deploying loitering drones against positions located in northern occupied territories such as the Metat barracks and artillery bunkers in areas including Khirbet Ma’ar. Drone strikes also hit Israeli targets in the town of al-Bayyada in southern Lebanon.

Engagements with invading aircraft

Hezbollah said it confronted Israeli aerial assets on multiple occasions, including a warplane over Debaal, drones of the “Hermes 450 – Zik” type over Qabrikha and al-Shabriha, and an Apache helicopter over al-Mansouri, which it said was forced to retreat.

Bint Jbeil a focal point of fighting

The group said Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon remained a central battleground, reporting repeated strikes on Israeli troop gatherings in and around the town, including "10 waves of rocket barrages" carried out at different times.

In a separate statement, Hezbollah described an ambush targeting a unit from Battalion 101 of the Israeli Paratroopers Brigade near Maroun al-Ras, still in southern Lebanon. It said fighters detonated an explosive device and engaged the unit at close range, resulting in casualties, while Israeli forces later evacuated the wounded under fire.

Continued operations across multiple locations

Additional attacks were reported on troop gatherings and equipment in areas including al-Khiam, al-Bayyada, Kfar Kila, and near detention facilities as well as on newly established artillery positions and a military bulldozer in southern Lebanon.

The group also said it targeted sites such as the Meron air surveillance base and Filon base, both situated on the southern side of the occupied territories, with rocket fire.

Across all statements, Hezbollah emphasized that "this response will continue until the Israeli-American aggression against our country and our people ceases."

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