Five soldiers from the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit were killed in fighting with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Thursday. The slain troops included company commander Maj. Ofek Bachar, 24, team commander Capt. Elad Siman Tov, 23, and squad leader Staff Sgt. Elyashiv Eitan Wieder, 22, among others.
In addition to the fatalities, another officer and two soldiers suffered serious injuries from an anti-tank missile attack, with other troops also injured in separate skirmishes. The IDF confirmed that Hezbollah operatives were captured during the same battle.
Hezbollah announced a new “escalatory phase” in its operations against Israel, utilizing precision-guided missiles to target Israeli troops. The group stated that it has hundreds of fighters prepared to confront any Israeli ground incursion into southern Lebanese villages.
Legislator Hassan Fadlallah emphasized that Hezbollah is committed to continuing the fight until Israel agrees to a ceasefire, asserting that the Israeli military has struggled to make significant territorial gains. He criticized Israeli forces for their inability to secure control over any villages and claimed they were retreating under pressure from Hezbollah fighters.
The situation in southern Lebanon has intensified, with Israeli ground operations escalating after the conflict erupted in Gaza on October 7, leading to significant casualties on both sides. The Lebanese government reported that Israeli strikes have resulted in over 2,400 deaths in Lebanon over the past year, predominantly in recent weeks.