3 IDF soldiers killed in Lebanon

VIDEO - Another day of fierce fighting in Lebanon: Three IDF soldiers were killed Tuesday in two confrontations with Hizbullah in the village of Aita al-Shaab about one kilometer from the Israeli border. The soldiers that were killed are: Lieutenant Ilan Gabai, 22, from Kiryat Tivon Staff Sergeant Yehonatan Einhorn, 22, from the community of Gamzo Staff Sergeant Michael Levin, 21, from kibbutz Kvutzat Yavne Twenty-five more soldiers, among them one IDF officer, were lightly wounded. Including the casualties Tuesday, the number of soldiers who have fallen during fighting in the north over the past three weeks rose to 36. An additional 28 civilians have been killed. The soldiers were killed in two separate incidents of fighting. In each incident, Hizbullah operatives fired anti-tank missiles towards troops. The first missile killed an officer and soldier, and the second killed another soldier. IDF soldiers in north (Photo: AP) Paratroopers have been operating in the village since pre-dawn Tuesday, with air force and tank brigade backup. Brigadier-General Alon Friedman, head of the IDF’s Northern Command headquarters, said earlier “the ground forces are operating with the backup of artillery fire to clear the area of terrorists and weapons caches some 20 terrorists have been hit since the fighting began this morning.” 5 full brigades now operating in south Lebanon A military official described the difficult battles: “At every moment, a terrorist pops up. The shooting here doesn’t let up for a minute. Terrorists are operating from within posts, within houses and between them.” Shortly after the political-security cabinet approved the widening of the ground offensive in south Lebanon, forces began deploying to numerous sites along the border. Tuesday afternoon Arab media sources reported renewed Air Force attacks after a two-day suspension of air bombardments following the strike in the Lebanese village of Qana, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians. Massive explosions shook Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley near the Syrian border. Five full brigades are now operating in south Lebanon, after two tank brigades joined Nahal, the Golani 13th Battalion, and a Paratrooper brigade. This is the largest number of soldiers fighting on the field since the beginning of the current conflict. Reserve troops called up over the past week are also slated to join the fighting soon.

3 IDF soldiers killed in Lebanon

(VIDEO) Cleared for publication: Three troops killed, 25 injured as Hizbullah terrorists fire anti-tank missiles at troops entering villlage of Aita al-Shaab in south Lebanon early Tuesday