Hezbollah fighters engaged Israeli forces in southern Lebanon early Thursday, the group said, marking a further escalation in the ongoing conflict between both sides.
In a statement, Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with Israeli troops along the road to the town of Qantara, using light and medium weapons as well as rocket-propelled projectiles. The group also claimed it targeted an Israeli Merkava tank with a guided missile, stating that the strike resulted in a confirmed hit.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the claims.
The confrontation came amid heightened cross-border hostilities, with warning sirens earlier sounding across the greater Tel Aviv area in central Israel following rocket launches from Lebanon.
Hezbollah said it had carried out strikes on Israeli military sites in Tel Aviv using what it described as “precision missiles.” According to the group, the targets included the Kirya complex, which houses Israel’s Defense Ministry, as well as the Dolphin barracks used by the Military Intelligence Directorate.
There was no immediate confirmation from Israeli authorities regarding the reported strikes or their impact.
The latest developments add to a rapidly deteriorating security situation along the Israel-Lebanon border. Israel has intensified its military campaign in Lebanon, conducting sustained airstrikes and launching a ground offensive in the country’s south following a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2.
Lebanese authorities report that at least 1,094 people have been killed and 3,119 others injured in Israeli attacks since the escalation began.
The conflict is unfolding within a broader regional crisis involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. A joint US-Israeli offensive on Iran that began on February 28 has reportedly resulted in more than 1,340 deaths.
In response, Iran has carried out retaliatory drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as locations in Jordan, Iraq, and several Gulf countries, stating that the attacks are aimed at US military assets.
The continued exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces have raised concerns about the potential for a wider regional war, as tensions remain high and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation face significant challenges.
