Lebanese Army Says Israeli Troops Killed Lebanese Soldier; Lebanese Troops Returned Fire

Last updated on October 3rd, 2024 at 11:58 am

Israeli forces struck a Lebanese Army outpost near the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, prompting the Lebanese troops to return fire, the Lebanese Army reported on Oct. 3.

The Lebanese Army reported one of their soldier was struck by Israeli fire, and Lebanese troops at the outpost “responded to the sources of fire.”

The exchange of fire comes two days into Israel’s growing ground incursion into southern Lebanon.

Israeli ground forces ostensibly entered Lebanon to target Hezbollah; a non-state Shia Islamist Lebanese political and paramilitary faction. The Lebanese Army is not officially affiliated with Hezbollah.

The exchange of fire between Israeli and Lebanese troops risks the Israeli incursion devolving into a general war with its northern neighbor.

The Lebanese Army reported an Israeli strike killed one of their soldiers on Sept. 30, as Israeli troops first began ground operations inside the country. This Thursday incident marks the first apparent instance of Lebanese government forces firing back on Israeli forces since the incursion began.

It’s unclear if Israeli troops sustained any casualties as a result of the return fire from the Lebanese Army on Thursday.

The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment regarding the exchange of fire Thursday.

The Israeli ground operation has also proven deadly for Israel. On Wednesday, Hezbollah media channels reported they caught Israeli troops in two separate ambush attacks, and claimed to kill and wound dozens of Israeli troops. The Israeli military subsequently confirmed eight of its soldiers were killed in action, including six members of its elite Sayeret Egoz commando unit; which specializes in anti-guerilla warfare operations.

President Joe Biden joined international calls for Israeli and Hezbollah forces to agree to a 21-day ceasefire, to allow time for a diplomatic off-ramp to the ongoing fighting.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected those ceasefire calls and said Israeli forces would “continue fighting with full force.”