Hezbollah Draws First Blood Amid Israeli Invasion Of Southern Lebanon (Videos)

Illustrative image.

Hezbollah intensified rocket and drone attacks on March 4, as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) expanded its control in southern Lebanon.

The group resumed military operations against Israel on March 1, just one day after the start of the American-Israeli attack on Iran. The move ended a ceasefire that was brokered by the United States more than a year ago. The IDF responded by launching a ground operation.

The latest wave of Hezbollah attacks reached as far as central Israel, and coincided with a ballistic missile attack from Iran on the same region.

The group, which announced some 20 operations throughout the day, said that its attacks reached Tel HaShomer base to the south of the port city of Haifa, an Iron Dome air defense system in the settlement of Kiryat Eliezer nearby, and Palmachim Air Base to the south of the city of Tel Aviv.

Fragments of the intercepted Hezbollah rockets and Iranian missiles impacted at several locations in central Israel and the Jerusalem area, Israeli Police said, with the Magen David Adom ambulance service later reporting that two people were wounded.

The IDF said that the “majority of the launches” from Lebanon toward central Israel and the north were intercepted by air defense systems. It also released video footage showing a drone launched from Lebanon being intercepted by an Israeli Navy warship.

While the attacks from Lebanon and Iran took place at the same time, IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin told reporters at a press briefing that he was not in position of any intelligence information that indicates this was coordinated by Hezbollah and Iran.

“With that said, there is no doubt that Hezbollah works for the Revolutionary Guards in Iran; it’s a wing of the Revolutionary Guards in Iran,” he added.

As the attacks were taking place, the IDF announced that it is expanding its control in southern Lebanon, the heartland of Hezbollah, taking over “forward defensive positions to establish an additional defensive layer to remove the threats to the residents of northern Israel.”

As troops advanced, the IDF ordered that all civilians in southern Lebanon to evacuate north of the Litani River, de facto marking the entire region for occupation.

“The activities of the Hezbollah terror organization compel the IDF to act against it with force. The IDF does not intend to harm you. For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately,” said IDF Arabic language spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee.

“Anyone located near Hezbollah operatives, facilities, or combat equipment is putting their life at risk,” he warned. “To the residents of southern Lebanon, you must immediately head north of the Litani River.”

Later, the IDF said that the 146th Reserve Division was deployed to the western portion of southern Lebanon, the 91st “Galilee” Regional Division was operating in the east, and the 210th “Bashan” Regional Division was operating in the Mount Dov area.

Hezbollah, from its side, said that its fighters were engaged in “direct” clashes with Israeli troops in the towns of Khiam and Dhayra.

The group announced several attacks on Israeli main battle tanks over the past day, and the IDF acknowledged that two IDF soldiers from the 401st Armored Brigade were moderately wounded in an anti-tank missile strike. What appears to be an armored personnel carrier was also seen getting hit with a Kornet missile in a video released by the group.

Lebanese state media reported violent clashes in the south, with AFP later reporting that Israeli troops took over several towns, including Khiam.

“Israeli forces are present today in several villages, including Kfar Kila, Houla, Kfar Shouba, Yaroun and Khiam,” a source from the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon told AFP.

Throughout the day, multiple waves of Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon, in addition to the capital, Beirut, and other parts of the country. The IDF said that the strikes hit underground weapon storage sites, and command centers of Hezbollah, as well as a site used by the group to collect intelligence and for “propaganda purposes.”

According to Lebanese health officials, Israeli strikes have killed 72 people and displaced more than 83,000 since the start of a new round of fighting in the country.

It’s worth noting that the IDF issued an unusual threat against Iranian regime officials in Lebanon during the day, with the Islamic Republic responding by threatening to target Israeli embassies worldwide.

In a televised speech aired late in the day, Hezbollah Secretary-General stated that the group’s decision to resume military operations against Israel was “a response to 15 months of Israeli violations, including the killing of [Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei.”

“Our choice is to confront the enemy to the fullest extent, and we will not surrender,” he said, noting that 500 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon over the past 15 months in violation of the ceasefire brokered by the U.S.

“As long as the occupation exists, resistance and its weapons are a legitimate right,” he added.

Hezbollah’s decision to enter the war sparked unprecedented steps by the Lebanese government, which declared all military operations by the group to be unlawful. Still, it is clear that the group has made its mind and will not take a step back.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence

NOW hosted at southfront.press

Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.

The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation

Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com

SOUTHFRONT.PRESS

MORE ON THIS TOPIC: