Hezbollah has sent elite fighters back to the border area in southern Lebanon to confront Israeli forces, as the conflict in the Middle East escalates. Sources say members of Hezbollah’s Radwan force have been ordered to block Israeli tanks, with the town of Khiyam mentioned as a point of conflict. Hezbollah, established by Iran in 1982, entered the war recently to avenge the death of Iran’s supreme leader, killed in a U. S.-Israeli attack in Tehran. Following this, Israel has intensified its strikes in southern Lebanon and increased troop presence, instructing Lebanese residents to evacuate certain areas along the border.
Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, stated that the group would resist Israeli plans for “occupation and expansion,” characterizing their efforts as an essential defense. There has been a significant deployment of elite fighters after Hezbollah began attacking Israeli positions with rockets and drones. These fighters had previously left the region following a ceasefire in the 2024 war but have now returned to the area between the Litani River and the border.
An Israeli military spokesperson noted they were reviewing these developments but had no immediate comment. Reports indicate that Israeli troops have sustained injuries due to anti-tank fire in northern Lebanon. Hezbollah claims to have conducted multiple attacks on Israeli tanks, with its military operations increasing within Lebanon. The conflict has already led to substantial casualties among Hezbollah fighters in the previous war. Since the truce in 2024, Hezbollah maintained a presence while the Lebanese army confiscated their weapons in compliance with ceasefire rules, which they asserted did not apply to all of Lebanon.
With information from Reuters
