Casualties as Hezbollah Attacks IDF Positions on Lebanon Border
Mortars and missiles target IDF troops; six reported wounded. UN soldier killed in crossfire.
Antitank missiles were fired at two IDF vehicles from the Har Dov area (Shebaa Farms) in a Hezbollah ambush Wednesday morning.
Six casualties in light to moderate condition have been taken to Ziv Hospital in Tzfat. Additional casualties were evacuated to Rambam Hospital, but so far, no information has been released about their condition.
The IDF is certain that none of its soldiers was abducted.
Hezbollah has released photos that it says show the IDF’s vehicles after they were hit.
Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for the attack, initially through journalist Rassan Ben Jiddo, who is close to the terrorist militia. The terror militia issued an announcement shortly after 1:00 p.m., in which it said that a squad named for “the Martyrs of Quneitra” fired at an IDF convoy at 11:35 and caused casualties. The announcement was presented as “Announcement Number 1,” in a hint that additional operations could follow this attack.
As of 1:30 p.m., exchanges of fire between the IDF and Hezbollah were ongoing. IDF Spokesman Moti Almoz said that the IDF has not yet said the last word in its response to the attack.
Hezbollah has asked UNIFIL to tell Israel that it is asking for a cessation of fire, according to Channel 2.
A Spanish UNIFIL soldier was killed by the IDF’s fire into Lebanon, according to the UN Spokesman as quoted by Al Jazeera.
The IDF spokesman said that an antitank missile was fired at an IDF vehicle that was moving along the border. Channel 2 said there was also mortar fire at IDF outposts.
Speaking on Channel 2, Col. (res.) Kobi Marom called the incident “very serious” and said that it involved casualties and will require a harsh Israeli response.
In an initial reaction, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who was in Sderot, said: “Anyone who tries to challenge us in the north should look at what happened to Hamas, not far from here, which was recently dealt the hardest blow it has received since its creation.”
Residents of Metula were initially told to stay inside their homes but were later given the all clear.
The IDF has been firing at several targets in Lebanon in retaliation, since the incident began.
