Hezbollah said on Monday that its fighters were engaged in clashes with Israeli forces that landed by helicopter in eastern Lebanon near the Syrian border, marking the second such operation since the latest escalation between Israel and the Iran-backed group.
Read More: Lebanon says nearly 400 killed, 1110 injured in ongoing Israeli attacks
In a statement, Hezbollah said it detected the “infiltration of approximately 15 Israeli enemy helicopters” entering eastern Lebanon from the Syrian side of the border. The group said its fighters opened fire using “appropriate weapons” and that the confrontation with the landing forces was ongoing.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported intense fighting near the outskirts of the town of Nabi Sheet in the Bekaa region, where Hezbollah maintains strong influence. The clashes were described as an attempt by local fighters to repel Israeli troops who had carried out an airborne landing in the area.
Two Hezbollah officials in the Bekaa Valley that one Israeli helicopter had been shot down during the confrontation. However, the Israeli military did not immediately comment on the claim.
The operation follows an earlier Israeli commando raid in the same area late Friday. According to reports, the raid aimed to locate the remains of Israeli airman Ron Arad, who has been missing since 1986. That operation reportedly left 41 people dead.
Meanwhile, tensions also rose in Beirut as a loud explosion was heard in the southern suburbs, a known Hezbollah stronghold. Smoke was seen rising from the area following what the Israeli military said was a strike on infrastructure linked to Hezbollah.
Read More: Lebanon war: Israeli airstrikes claim 294 lives
Israel has continued targeting Hezbollah positions across Lebanon despite a ceasefire reached in 2024. The renewed fighting erupted after Hezbollah attacked Israel following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes last week.
Lebanese authorities say Israeli airstrikes over the past week have killed at least 394 people, including dozens of women and children.