Israeli military promises Hezbollah will not ‘settle’ again in Lebanon
Israel’s military chief has pledged to deprive Hezbollah of any safe haven across Lebanon, saying it will pursue the group “in all areas”.
“The severe blows against Hezbollah in all areas — in Beirut, in the ([Bekaa] Valley, in south Lebanon — will continue,” Israel’s armed forces chief of staff Herzi Halevi said in a televised statement.
“We will not allow Hezbollah to settle itself in these places in the future”, he said.
Ninth Israeli soldier dies in fighting in southern Lebanon
Israel’s military has announced the death of another soldier in combat in southern Lebanon, bringing its total losses from fighting there to nine.
The soldier, 21-year-old Nitzanei Oz, was killed in combat yesterday, according to the military.
As we’ve been reporting, Israeli and Hezbollah forces are engaged in fierce fighting near the border, with Hezbollah setting off explosive devices at approaching Israeli troops.
Hezbollah claims 17 Israeli soldiers killed
Hezbollah claims its fighters have killed 17 Israeli soldiers, according to a statement issued via its official Telegram channel.
“The Islamic Resistance Operations Room confirms from its reliable field and security sources that the number of dead among the officers and soldiers of the Zionist enemy in the heroic confrontations that the resistance fighters fought today,” it stated.
The Israeli army has so far only admitted to nine combat deaths since its forces invaded south Lebanon on Wednesday.
Massive fire erupts at attacked Beirut apartment
As we’ve been reporting, Israeli air raids have been pounding the southern suburbs of Beirut in recent hours.
Footage verified by Al Jazeera’s Sanad fact-checking agency shows the aftermath of one of those raids, which hit a residential apartment in southern Beirut’s Chiyah area.
The footage shows Civil Defence crews responding to the attacked building, where a massive fire and plume of smoke rises.
مشاهد إضافيّة للغارة الإسرائيليّة التي استهدفت شقة في الشياح.#الضاحية_الجنوبية #الجنوب #جنوب_لبنان #الشياح #ليبانوس pic.twitter.com/NxzT67sc83
— Lebanos (@lebanosnews) October 3, 2024
