Battles in Aita al-Shaab
Photo: AP
Exchanges of fire rage in Lebanon
IDF forces entered the village of Mahbib, west of Manara, and encounter Hizbullah members; at least seven terrorists killed
The battles in southern Lebanon
have been renewed. A Golani force entered the village of Mahbib Wednesday in the eastern district of southern Lebanon and became involved in an exchange of fire Hizbullah
at the scene.
Meanwhile, Paratrooper forces continued to operate in the village of Aita al-Shaab in the central region of southern Lebanon.
Night Raid
Roee Nahmias
IDF commando units return safely to Israel after nightly raid in Lebanese territory. Several Hizbullah gunmen, killed, at least three terrorists captured in operation. Lebanese officials say 10 civilians killed in IDF air strike
In Mahbib, IDF forces killed at least seven terrorists so far. According to the IDF, since the start of Operation Changing Direction, 300 Hizbullah members have been killed.
The village of Aita al-Shaab became a focal point of fighting, during which an officer and two soldiers were killed.
In addition, 29 soldiers were injured in two incidents in the village.
A number of antitank missiles and rockets were fired at the Paratrooper force which entered the village to strike Hizbullah infrastructures.
Aita al-Shaab is only one kilometer from the border with Israel, but the IDF stressed that it would work in every area in southern Lebanon containing terror infrastructures, and that a number of forces would work on a number of different fronts as need dictates.
At this stage forces are operating at a depth of six kilometers in Lebanese territory.
Overnight, during an expanded IDF operation aimed at striking Hizbullah's frontline infrastructure, Armored Corps and Engineer Corpse forces of the IDF took control of the villages of Mis al-Jabal, Mahbib and Belaida, in the eastern region of southern Lebanon.
At the same time, other forces consolidated their hold on the villages of al-Taibeh, al-Adaisa, and Rav al-Taltin, west of Metula, and the villages of Aita al-Shaab, Maron al-Ras, and Bint Jbeil.
Katyusha rockets and mortars have been fired at Israel in recent weeks.
The Air Force attacked 50 structures in Lebanon overnight, including Hizbullah homes, structures to which terrorists fled after firing rockets, and targets aimed at aiding Hizbullah in a number of areas, as well as rocket launch zones and access routes and bridges used by terrorists.
News agencies contributed to the report
