Beirut: The Israeli army on Friday firmly refuted Hezbollah's assertion that it had destroyed or disabled 29 Israeli tanks amid ongoing clashes in southern Lebanon. Responding to a query from Anadolu, Israeli military spokesperson Ella Wawiya stated that the claims were "completely false," attributing them to Hezbollah's "media war" tactics. Wawiya emphasized that Israeli forces are operating "according to their plans while maintaining readiness and minimizing losses," and noted that many of Hezbollah's claims "do not reflect reality."
According to Anadolu Agency, Hezbollah had declared the destruction or damage of 29 tanks during 96 operations conducted on Thursday within Lebanese borders and as far as 120 kilometers (74.5 miles) into Israeli territory. The Israeli army, in a separate statement, confirmed that two soldiers had been killed and six others injured during recent engagements involving four divisions in southern Lebanon.
Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo announced on Thursday an intensified expansion of ground incursions into southern Lebanon, aiming to broaden "a forward security zone." Since the conflict's escalation on March 2, the Israeli military has consistently reported ground operations in the region, with Hezbollah claiming to resist advancing forces. As reported by Channel 14, Israel plans to extend its military reach up to eight kilometers inside Lebanese territory and has commenced the establishment of 18 military positions.
Earlier this week, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir declared that the army is preparing "to deepen ground maneuvers and airstrikes in Lebanon under a structured plan," as mentioned in a military statement. Lebanese authorities report that Israeli attacks since March 2 have resulted in 1,116 fatalities, 3,229 injuries, and the displacement of over one million individuals. Israel maintains control over parts of southern Lebanon, with some areas occupied for decades and others since the recent conflict between October 2023 and November the following year.