Israeli tanks penetrated today the deepest into southern Lebanon since the beginning of the war, reaching the outskirts of the town of Hiam, about six kilometers from the border, reported the official Lebanese telegraph agency NNA.
„Large number of tanks of the Israeli occupation army“ were located on a hill east of Hiam, the agency said.
The Israeli army launched a ground operation against “Hezbollah” on September 30, alongside intense airstrikes in several areas of Lebanon, according to AFP.
In two statements “Hezbollah“ announced that it fired a volley of rockets at Israeli troops south of Hiam, then attacked Israeli soldiers southeast of the city with artillery shells and rockets.
Since the start of its ground operation, Israeli troops have stormed several border villages in Lebanon, destroying houses and claiming to destroy Hezbollah tunnels, before withdrawing.
At the same time, the Israeli army strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as in the southern suburbs of Beirut - strongholds of the pro-Iranian group “Hezbollah”.
More than 1,700 people have been killed since the intense strikes began on September 23, according to an AFP count based on data from Lebanon's health ministry.