Six Israeli Soldiers Killed in Deadly Strikes in Lebanon

Israel experienced one of the deadliest days in its ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon on Wednesday, with six soldiers killed in combat near the southern border. The Israeli military confirmed the deaths, stating the soldiers "fell during combat in southern Lebanon," bringing the total number of Israeli casualties to 47 since the ground operation against Hezbollah began on September 30.

The fatalities come as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in a statement, reaffirmed the government's commitment to its campaign against Hezbollah, pledging to intensify military efforts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expressed solidarity by sharing an image of the "Golani" Brigade insignia—a green olive tree on a yellow background—on social media, accompanied by a message of mourning.

Since September 23, Israel has escalated its bombing campaign, primarily targeting Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut and other regions in Lebanon. Ground troops were deployed on September 30 as part of a broader effort following months of cross-border skirmishes. These confrontations were spurred by Hezbollah's support for Hamas in Gaza after the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, which led to the outbreak of the Gaza war.

Earlier on Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike hit Aramoun, a densely populated area just south of Beirut, which is outside of Hezbollah's traditional strongholds. Lebanese health authorities reported that the strike killed at least eight people. Additional Israeli airstrikes later in the evening targeted southern Beirut, where AFP footage showed smoke rising from areas under Israeli evacuation orders. Lebanese media reported an increase in air raids on Hezbollah positions in the past 24 hours.

In retaliation, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching ballistic missiles at the Israeli military's headquarters in Tel Aviv, a major commercial and defense hub. The Israeli army, however, declined to comment on the claim, although it did confirm intercepting several projectiles fired from Lebanon.

The conflict has escalated in recent months, with Israel aiming to push Hezbollah militants beyond the Litani River and weaken the group's military capabilities. Hezbollah's actions are part of broader support for Hamas in Gaza, which has contributed to the intensifying violence along Israel's northern border.

On a visit to the border, newly appointed Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that Israel would not back down, stating, "There will be no ceasefires, no easing of pressure. Our goal is to achieve military objectives, and we will continue to strike Hezbollah everywhere."

The war has already claimed significant casualties. According to Lebanese authorities, more than 3,360 people have been killed in clashes between Israel and Hezbollah since October 2023. In northern Israel, two civilians from the city of Nahariya were killed by rocket fire from Lebanon on Tuesday, raising the death toll in the region to 45.

The United Nations Security Council condemned a recent wave of attacks on the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL), urging all parties to respect the safety of peacekeepers. "Peacekeepers must never be the target of an attack," the Council said in a statement.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, the health ministry reported that at least 43,712 people have died in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has now stretched beyond 13 months.