Hezbollah, Israeli troops clash on the ground in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa | Israel attacks Lebanon News
Clashes Erupt Along Lebanon-Syria Border as Israeli Forces Conduct Air Raids
NABI CHIT, Lebanon — Clashes erupted on the Lebanon-Syria border as Israeli forces attempted a landing operation, with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah reporting its fighters were engaged in the conflict, according to the Lebanese state-run National News Agency.
At least 12 people have died, and 33 others were injured as a result of Israeli airstrikes on Nabi Chit, located in the eastern Bekaa Valley, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The Israeli military has not yet commented on the recent hostilities. However, the regional tensions have escalated following Hezbollah’s missile attacks on Israel, which were launched in retaliation for the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Since then, Israel has conducted airstrikes and sent ground troops into southern Lebanon, although operations have not expanded further north.
Reports indicate that this operation marks one of the deepest Israeli incursions into Lebanon in recent years, following the capture of a Hezbollah operative in Batroun in November 2024.
According to the National News Agency, firefights have been reported in the eastern mountain region along the Lebanese-Syrian border, aimed at repelling Israeli landing attempts. The agency identifies Nabi Chit, an area where Hezbollah maintains significant influence, as the site of the incident.
Hezbollah issued a statement claiming that its fighters observed “the infiltration of four Israeli enemy army helicopters from the Syrian direction.” Following the landings, Hezbollah engaged the advancing troops near the Nabi Chit cemetery, employing light and medium weaponry.
“Hezbollah noted that the clash intensified as the Israeli advance was detected, leading to substantial Israeli airstrikes and a subsequent retreat,” the statement said. The group also reported launching rocket fire at Israeli evacuation zones in the outskirts of Nabi Chit.
Israeli airstrikes have targeted Nabi Chit repeatedly, with at least 13 strikes reported on Friday, leading to nine fatalities, according to the Health Ministry.
In a decision made on Monday, Lebanon has outlawed military operations by Hezbollah. Despite the ban, the group continues its missile assaults on Israeli forces.
Al Jazeera correspondent Zeina Khodr, reporting from the Bekaa Valley, highlighted the precarious position of the Lebanese government in the wake of Hezbollah’s involvement in the conflict. She stated that the presence of Hezbollah fighters in combat roles indicates their preeminence in the region.
“The southern suburbs of Beirut have faced continuous Israeli bombardment for several days, prompting a mass exodus of tens of thousands from the densely populated Dahiyeh neighborhood,” Khodr said.
In recent developments, the Israeli military has warned of a potential large-scale evacuation order for southern Lebanon, further exacerbating the already significant civilian displacement.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that the death toll from recent Israeli actions in Lebanon has reached at least 217, with 798 injured and approximately 95,000 individuals displaced.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed grave concerns over the repercussions of this displacement, stating, “Our country has been drawn into a devastating war that we did not seek and did not choose.”
