The IDF killed several Hezbollah terrorists overnight in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area of southern Lebanon, the military said Saturday, in a clash that left an Israeli combat officer moderately wounded.
According to the IDF, troops identified several Hezbollah terrorists inside the security zone where Israeli forces are operating. The forces then attacked and killed them to remove the threat.
(Photo: IDF)
The wounded officer was evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment, and his family was notified.
The incident came amid growing tensions with Hezbollah, which earlier this week violated the ceasefire by launching an explosive drone that struck an engineering vehicle used by Israeli forces on Ali al-Taher Ridge.
Acting on instructions from the political leadership, the IDF responded by demolishing Hezbollah terror tunnels beneath Beaufort Castle using 700 tons of explosives.
The overnight clash was the first such encounter in more than three weeks. On July 7, a female soldier from the IDF’s Oketz canine unit killed a Hezbollah terrorist during a confrontation inside a building in Bint Jbeil. A reserve soldier was seriously wounded in that incident.
The latest clash also occurred as Israel and Lebanon move ahead with a pilot plan under which the IDF is expected to redeploy in several villages while the Lebanese army enters them to complete the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Two weeks ago, the U.S. State Department announced that the project had begun in accordance with the framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The first villages included in the initiative are Froun, Srifa and Zawtar al-Gharbiya.
“The IDF will continue to act to remove any threat to its forces and will not allow the Hezbollah terrorist organization to harm the citizens of the State of Israel,” the military said.
First published: 17:04, 08.01.26