Hezbollah Alleges Killing Over 70 Israeli Soldiers in Recent Clashes

Hezbollah's Claim

In a recent statement, Hezbollah has claimed that it has killed over 70 Israeli troops since the start of the IDF's cross-border offensive in southern Lebanon earlier this month. This claim is an update from a previous statement where they reported that 55 Israeli soldiers were killed since the ground invasion began.

Israel's Casualty Count

However, Israel's own casualty count significantly differs. According to them, about 20 soldiers have been lost inside Lebanon during the offensive operations. In addition, over the past year, Israel reports losing 30 more troops stationed in northern Israel due to Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks.

Hezbollah Casualties According to IDF

The IDF reports the number of Hezbollah militants it has killed is in the hundreds. This includes Hashem Safieddine, a high-value target, whose death has been confirmed by both sides. Safieddine was widely seen as the potential successor to Hezbollah's leadership following Hasan Nasrallah's death. Israel has reportedly killed at least seven high-ranking Hezbollah commanders and officials in recent weeks.

Hezbollah's Response to Safieddine's Death

In response to Safieddine's death, Hezbollah released a statement saying, "We pledge to our great martyr and his martyred brothers to continue the path of resistance and jihad until achieving its goals of freedom and victory."

Continued Conflict

Israel has continued its ground operations in south Lebanon and targeting Beirut. The port city of Tyre has also been under heavy bombardment. Both sides are claiming successes. Hezbollah reports that it fired “precision missiles” and launched new types of attack drones for the first time in clashes with Israeli troops. They also claim to have pushed back Israeli soldiers during battles in several border villages in southern Lebanon and forced Israeli troops to “retreat behind the frontier” after they attempted to infiltrate from the outskirts of the south Lebanon village of Aitaroun.

Attempted Hezbollah Strike on Tel Aviv

Wednesday also saw an attempted Hezbollah strike deep into Israel, on Tel Aviv. The Israeli army reported that "Two launches were intercepted by the air force, another launch fell in an open area, in addition, a fall was detected in the area. So far, no casualties have been reported," in response to the rocket launched at the city.

Bottom Line

The ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel continues to escalate with both sides claiming victories. The death of high-ranking Hezbollah officials, including Hashem Safieddine, has added another dimension to this conflict. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community watches with bated breath. What are your thoughts on this ongoing conflict? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, every day at 6pm.