Two Israeli Commandos killed in Gaza, 22 wounded in northern front

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
13 Nov 2023 11:08
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The Israeli occupation army is on high alert near the Lebanese borders as Hezbollah escalates its operations in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

Fighters from Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force as seen in a video published by the Resistance military media documenting an operation against an Israeli military base in southern Lebanon (Screengrab)

The Israeli occupation army admitted the death of two of its personnel, an officer and a soldier from the Commando Brigade, during confrontations with the Resistance in northern Gaza on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation army stated that a soldier of the Oketz unit was severely wounded in Gaza on Sunday.

According to the military, this raises the total of Israeli soldiers killed since Operation Al-Aqsa Flood to 363, including 44 during the invasion of Gaza.

On the Lebanese front, Israeli media outlets reported on Monday that 22 settlers and soldiers were injured on Sunday in operations launched from southern Lebanon, which saw the use of anti-tank missiles and mortar shells, toward positions in the northern front.

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, "In the Dovev settlement in the Upper Galilee, a rocket targeting an armored truck led to the injury of 15 settlers, including one severely and another now in critical condition."

The Lebanese Resistance Hezbollah claimed responsibility for several operations in support of Palestinians in Gaza on Sunday, targeting a number of Israeli military positions. Operations included the missile launches on the "Dovev" Barracks. In a statement, the Resistance group said it targeted an Israeli logistics unit, which was working on erecting spy and surveillance antennas and hardware in a newly established outpost near the barracks.

Footage shows the Islamic Resistance in #Lebanon targeting, with direct weapons, elements from the Israeli occupation forces on November 8, 2023, near the "Dovev" Barracks at the #Lebanese-#Palestinian border. https://t.co/c8aVIP534S
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 9, 2023

Haaretz continued listing another operation, "In an attack on the Menara settlement, 7 soldiers were injured due to mortar shelling."

In total, Israeli media counted 22 Israelis injured in the northern region on Sunday.

Highlighting the situation, a reporter from Israeli Channel 12 broadcaster confirmed that "Hezbollah has so far been operating in the north according to an army versus army equation and has not targeted civilians."

"Now, Israel has no interest in escalating the situation in the north, where the focus should be on Gaza," he added.

Israeli media underscored the heightened alertness of the army in the north following what they described as the "most intense day" on the northern front with Hezbollah since the outbreak of the war. This included rocket launches toward Akka and "Krayot" as part of a series of operations that resulted in casualties among settlers and soldiers.

Simultaneously, a reporter from the Israeli channel Kan in the north said, "The evacuation of the wounded in Dovev continued for hours," adding that "the situation is very dangerous, increasing pressure on the Israeli army and frustration among settlers in the border area and reserve soldiers themselves."

"Being in this situation is not easy. They have been in this state for weeks, and it is not easy."

Commenting on Hezbollah's operations on Sunday, Israeli media pointed out that the Lebanese Resistance "has ignored the warnings of Security Minister Yoav Gallant" and crossed the "red lines" announced by the Security Minister, adding that "Hezbollah's attacks are a stain on the national level for Israel."

"Despite Gallant's warnings, we see Hezbollah continuing the same pace of fire, even as the military establishment cannot stop Hezbollah," said a Channel 12 reporter on the northern front.

Furthermore, Israeli media also highlighted that Hezbollah's operations against northern settlements "paralyzed movement there," leading to the official evacuation of 24 settlements and unofficial evacuation of others.

Hezbollah "holds the initiative in the north," and the Israeli military is "frustrated, constantly in a reactive position," Israeli news outlets reported, warning that the Resistance group "has the capability to reach far into Israel if it chooses to."