Hezbollah: Prepared for a Long Battle, Israeli Losses Mount in Ground Offensive

Hezbollah has announced that it has inflicted significant losses on Israeli forces, claiming “over 100 Israeli soldiers killed and 1,000 wounded” since the onset of Israel’s ground maneuver in southern Lebanon.

In a statement, Hezbollah asserted that Israel’s decision to advance into the second phase of its ground operation would only lead to further losses and ultimate disappointment. The group emphasized its readiness for a prolonged conflict, vowing to defend Lebanon’s freedom and sovereignty by preventing Israel from achieving its objectives.

Two Israeli settlers were reported killed by a rocket fired from Lebanon, striking the coastal city of Nahariya in northern Israel.

Israeli media reported that sirens sounded in Haifa, Acre, Nahariya, Tel Aviv, and parts of the Upper Galilee in response to rockets and drones launched from Lebanon, prompting civilians to seek shelter. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the interception of several “suspicious aerial targets” originating from Lebanon, while Israel’s Home Front Command indicated that sirens were also activated in and around Tel Aviv as a precaution.

Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, reaffirmed on Tuesday that there would be no ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israeli air and ground operations are ongoing. Gallant declared via his social media account that “offensive operations must continue to undermine Hezbollah’s capabilities and secure a decisive victory.”

He stated, “There will be no ceasefire in Lebanon, no truce. We will continue to strike Hezbollah with full force until the objectives of this war are achieved.”

According to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation, the Israeli Army’s 36th Division has expanded its ground operations, moving into new areas within southern Lebanon’s second line of villages. Meanwhile, the Israeli newspaper Maariv reported that the IDF has officially entered the second phase of its ground campaign in Lebanon.

Since September 23, Israel has launched intense and unprecedented airstrikes on various locations in Lebanon, resulting in thousands of casualties and more than 1.2 million displaced persons, according to official data.

In retaliation, Hezbollah has escalated its operations against Israeli forces, broadening its range of targets in response to continued Israeli aggression on Lebanese territory. The conflict intensifies as both sides prepare for what could be an extended and costly engagement.