Military escalation in southern Lebanon: Israeli soldier killed, Hezbollah thwarts infiltration attempts

The Israeli occupation army escalated its military operations in southern Lebanon at dawn today, Friday, carrying out a series of airstrikes and concentrated artillery shelling. Artillery targeted the outskirts of the towns of Qalawiya and Burj Qalawiya, while heavy machine guns fired towards Wadi Al-Hujair and the vicinity of the towns of Froun and Al-Ghandouriya, leading to a state of severe tension in the border area.

In a significant field development, an Israeli drone targeted a residential apartment in the Hosh Sour area during the night hours, causing a large fire and injuries among civilians. The war raids also included the towns of Qana, Al-Qalila, and the area between Al-Sultaniya and Tibnin, reaching the towns of Shahour and Dbaal, as part of a wide-ranging aerial campaign.

The occupation army issued urgent warnings to the residents of the villages of Shabriha, Hamadiya, Zuq Al-Mufdi, Maashouq, and Al-Housh, demanding them to evacuate their homes and head north immediately. These threats come amidst indications of the occupation's intention to expand its ground operations in the western and central sectors of southern Lebanon, amid international warnings of an exacerbation of the humanitarian crisis.

Regarding human losses, the Israeli army acknowledged the killing of Sergeant First Class Negev Dagan, 20 years old, during the fierce battles ongoing in southern Lebanon. With this announcement, the official toll of the occupation army's dead rises to 20 soldiers since the start of the widespread escalation in early March, according to data issued by Hebrew sources.

For its part, Hezbollah announced the implementation of a series of qualitative operations to confront the infiltrating forces, confirming the targeting of Israeli aircraft and drones in Lebanese airspace with surface-to-air missiles. The party's statements clarified that the fighters were able to detect an Israeli force that attempted to infiltrate towards the water pump north of the town of Al-Taybeh, where it was dealt with using appropriate weapons and forced to retreat.

In other operations, Hezbollah fighters targeted two 'D9' military bulldozers while they were moving between the towns of Rashaf and Hadatha, directly disabling them. The shelling also targeted a Merkava tank and an Israeli force in the Bidar Al-Faqani area in the town of Al-Taybeh, in addition to targeting the newly established Al-Bayada site that the occupation army recently established.

Politically, sources quoted a US State Department official as saying that the third round of Lebanese-Israeli talks held in Washington was positive and serious. These talks, which began under American patronage, aim to push towards a comprehensive agreement that ends the state of conflict, complementing the initial understandings that took place in last April's meetings.

In Beirut, the Lebanese President and Prime Minister discussed the progress of the ongoing negotiations in Washington, emphasizing the need to adhere to the national directives given to the Lebanese negotiating delegation. These meetings continue at the US State Department headquarters, where sessions are expected to resume this morning to discuss the outstanding contentious points between the two parties.

Coinciding with the Lebanon front, the occupation continues its aggression on the Gaza Strip, where four Palestinians were martyred on Thursday in shelling that targeted Jabalia, Beit Lahia, and Khan Yunis. Medical sources reported that the total death toll in Gaza since October 7, 2023, has risen to more than 72,000 martyrs, amidst continued artillery shelling and the demolition of residential blocks.

International reports issued by UNICEF indicate a tragic reality for children in Lebanon, where about 200 children have been martyred and hundreds injured since the escalation of confrontations last March. These figures coincide with the continuation of Israeli violations, which have entered their 217th day since October 2025, placing the international community before its responsibilities to stop the bloodshed.

The talks in Washington were positive and constructive and are scheduled to continue to reach a comprehensive agreement.