Hezbollah fighters successfully ambushed an Israeli infantry unit attempting to infiltrate Lebanese territory near the village of Odaisseh at dawn on Wednesday, forcing the Israeli forces to retreat after suffering significant casualties, the group confirmed in a statement.

The ambush, which was carried out by the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, occurred in the Khallet al-Mahafer area, close to the border with Israel. Fierce clashes ensued, with Hezbollah forces engaging the Israeli soldiers at close range. The Israeli military later confirmed the death of one soldier, but local sources indicated the number of casualties was much higher, with dozens of Israeli elite soldiers reportedly wounded.

According to Hezbollah, the operation was conducted in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza and as part of their defense of Lebanon. Israeli forces responded by deploying helicopters and tanks to evacuate casualties and launch retaliatory strikes.

Israeli media described the incident as a "very unusual and extremely difficult event in the North," with at least four helicopters involved in the evacuation of wounded soldiers from the border area.

In addition to the ambush, Hezbollah launched a series of attacks on Israeli military positions. The group shelled the Shomera barracks with rockets, resulting in direct hits, and targeted Israeli forces in the Shtula settlement with Burkan rockets. The Misgav Am settlement and artillery emplacements south of Kiryat Shmona were also hit by Hezbollah's rocket and artillery fire.

Israeli hospitals in Haifa and Safad declared a "mass casualty event" following the attacks, as Hezbollah's operations continued to inflict heavy damage on Israeli military sites along the border. Sirens were reported sounding continuously across settlements in the Western al-Jalil and Kiryat Shmona regions.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes continued across Lebanon, with intense bombardments reported in the South, East, and the southern suburbs of Beirut. Hezbollah's Secretary-General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, was reportedly assassinated during one of the attacks.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that since October, Israeli aggression on Lebanon has resulted in the deaths of 1,873 people and left 9,134 others wounded. Hezbollah's operations, alongside the Israeli military’s ongoing attacks, have further escalated tensions in the region. (ILKHA)