Three Israeli soldiers were severely wounded and three others were moderately injured on Sunday in separate incidents in Southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces said.
Two of the severe casualties resulted from an anti-tank missile strike, while the others were hurt when a drone hit near them.
A sixth soldier suffered moderate injuries in an unrelated operational accident.
All were evacuated to the hospital and their families were notified.
An IDF soldier was killed in action in Southern Lebanon, the military announced on Sunday morning. He was identified as Sgt. Moshe Yitzchak Hacohen Katz, 22, from New Haven, Conn.
Hezbollah began firing rockets and suicide drones at Israel on March 2, in retaliation for the Jewish state’s targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the opening strikes of “Operation Roaring Lion/Epic Fury” against the regime on Feb. 28.
In response to the terrorist organization’s violation of the U.S.-brokered Nov. 27, 2024, truce agreement with Lebanon, Jerusalem launched an aerial campaign against Hezbollah and ordered IDF troops to advance and take control of additional areas in Southern Lebanon to halt cross-border attacks.
The IDF on Monday said it began “striking Hezbollah terrorist infrastructures in Beirut,” after saying on Sunday that the IDF had eliminated dozens of terrorists and destroyed more than 200 Hezbollah targets as part of efforts to expand the security zone in Southern Lebanon.
Israeli forces carried out targeted ground and air operations in Southern Lebanon over the past day, eliminating Hezbollah terror operatives and uncovering weapons caches, the IDF detailed in additional statements on Sunday.
Reserve troops from the 769th “Hiram” Brigade, operating under the IDF’s 91st “Galilee” Division, are conducting a ground operation to enhance the forward defensive area along the Lebanese border. During the activity, Unit 869 surveillance troops identified armed Hezbollah terrorists entering a structure, which was later struck by an Israeli Air Force aircraft, according to the military.
In a separate overnight incident, IDF soldiers spotted Hezbollah members attempting to plant explosive devices and fire mortar shells at troops. The forces returned fire, killing the terrorists, the IDF said, adding that no Israeli injuries were reported.
Troops also located a weapons depot containing dozens of anti-tank missiles, grenades and explosives intended for attacks on Israeli soldiers.
The army said it will continue to “operate with determination” against Hezbollah, which it accused of acting on behalf of the Iranian regime.
