IRIA News

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At least 8 Israeli soldiers were killed on October 2, 2024, while several soldiers were injured as Israel pressed ahead with a ground incursion into Lebanon targeting Hezbollah. Simultaneously, Israel launched airstrikes in Beirut and Gaza that left dozens dead, including children.

According to official sources, so far eight Israeli soldiers have been killed during fighting with Hezbollah militants. However, some independent sources claim that the number of deaths was around 12 to 14, and more than 60 IDF soldiers were injured in clashes with Hezbollah.

Several videos appeared on social media showing Israeli helicopters evacuating the dead bodies and injured soldiers in southern Lebanon. Israeli medical rescue units were called to the scene to treat injured soldiers in Lebanon.

Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters clashed with Israeli troops in two border towns, Maroun Al Ras and Adaisseh, in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese military sources claimed, Israeli forces just reached about 400 meters into Lebanon before turning back. The Israeli soldiers encountered traps and firing from Hezbollah fighters and were met with heavy resistance during its ground invasion of Lebanon.

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More than 10 Israeli soldiers were killed in clashes in southern Lebanon and upto 60 are injured – Sky News Arabia

The Israelis are constantly evacuating their casualties by helicopter. pic.twitter.com/64mE7OE9HL

— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) October 2, 2024

Hezbollah announced on October 2 that its fighters ambushed Israeli forces attempting to flank the town of Yaroun from the direction of the surrounding forest. Hezbollah militants detonated special explosive devices resulting in casualties. Hezbollah claimed that several Israeli soldiers were also injured in the ambush in Maroun al-Ras. The militant group also announced that its fighters destroyed 3 Merkava tanks with anti-tank missiles.

Israel began its ground operation inside Lebanon on September 30 and deployed the 98th Division of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) across the border to attack Hezbollah’s infrastructure. The IDF described that the main goal of the operation was ensuring the return of tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to their homes in northern Israel.

Later on October 2, the IDF deployed the 36th Division to Lebanon to support the 98th Division forces with “limited, localized and targeted raids” against Hezbollah targets and infrastructure. The IDF also released a video showing its forces, tanks, armored vehicles are moving into Lebanon overnight to conduct operations against Hezbollah targets.

Israel started the ground invasion of Lebanon after killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike in the Lebanese capital of Beirut last week. The Israeli airstrike also resulted in the death of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commander in Lebanon, Abbas Nilforoushan. In retaliation for a series of Israeli attacks on Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group operating in Lebanon, Iran launched nearly 200 missiles into Israel on October 1, 2024.

Separately the Lebanese group said in a statement that Hezbollah fighters conducted an aerial attack on an Israeli artillery position in Neve Ziv. A squadron of assault drones was used to strike the position, and the targets were hit with precision. Hezbollah said in a statement.

Israeli sources have released the names of at least 8 fallen soldiers, which include commanders and elite troops:

• Cpt. Eitan Itzhak Oster, 22 – Egoz Commando Unit, from Modi’in
• Cpt. Harel Etinger, 23 – Egoz Commando Unit, from Eli
• Cpt. Itai Ariel Giat, 23 – Yahalom Combat Engineering Unit, from Shoham
• Sgt. First Class Noam Barzilay, 22 – Egoz Commando Unit, from Kohav Yair
• Sgt. First Class Or Mantzur, 21 – Egoz Commando Unit, from Beit Aryeh
• Sgt. First Class Nazar Itkin, 21 – Egoz Commando Unit, from Kiryat Ata
• Staff Sgt. Almken Terefe, 21 – Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, from Jerusalem
• Staff Sgt. Ido Broyer, 21 – Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, from Nes Tziona

Israel released a warning to Lebanese citizens of two dozen villages in the south of Lebanon to immediately evacuate the area. The IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Col. Avichay Adraee said in a statement on his social media account, “For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately. Anyone who is near Hezbollah operatives, their facilities, or their weapons, puts themselves at risk.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent condolences to the families of dead soldiers and said, “We are in the middle of a tough war against Iran’s axis of evil, which seeks to destroy us. This will not happen.” He also highlighted the official goals of the war and said, “We will rescue our hostages in the south, we will return our residents in the north, we will guarantee Israel’s eternity.”

Broader conflict

Israeli warships in the Mediterranean Sea have also targeted Beirut. Lebanese security sources stated that “it was a cruise missile that was fired from the sea at a ‘health center’ belonging to Hezbollah in Salim Slam Street close to downtown Beirut.”

Images are now emerging of the building struck in the Bachoura area of central Beirut, with pictures showing people gathered around an apartment building in the neighborhood. While Israel has previously conducted airstrikes in southern Beirut, this is the first one closer to the city’s center.

GCC support for Lebanon

Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has affirmed its support for Lebanon at this “critical stage” following a meeting in Doha, Qatar. The council stressed the importance of implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which called for “a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon” and stated that only the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers could be armed south of the Litani River.

The GCC also urged the international community “to assume its responsibilities to maintain security and stability in the region” and called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the release of hostages.