Hours after Israel said its eight soldiers were killed – its first losses since launching cross-border raids this week – the military carried out a deadly air raid on Thursday on a Hezbollah rescue facility in central Beirut, killing at least six people.
Israel’s bombardment comes after its forces suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front in a year of clashes against Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah. Hezbollah said it repelled an Israeli infiltration into southern Lebanon on Wednesday.
The clashes came hours after Iran launched its largest missile attack yet on Israel, its sworn enemy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Tehran would pay for its “big mistake”.
Israel has bombarded Hezbollah’s south Beirut stronghold, having dealt a significant blow to the group last week by killing its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in a massive strike.
Israel carried out the air raid on Beirut after Iran launched its largest missile attack yet on its arch-foe Israel.
Iran, which backs Hezbollah militant group, said it would step up its response if Israel retaliates, defying calls for de-escalation in a war that has cost more than 1,000 lives in Lebanon.
The latest Israeli strike hit a Hezbollah rescue facility, a source close to the group told news agency AFP, killing at least six people, according to a Lebanese health ministry toll.
A day after its military said it was conducting “targeted ground raids” in south Lebanon, Israel reported the first death of a soldier in the Israel-Hezbollah war, a toll that later rose to eight dead.
Hezbollah said it forced Israeli soldiers to retreat, targeted an Israeli unit with explosives, and destroyed three Merkava tanks with rockets as they advanced on Maroun al-Ras village.