As Israel continues its military attacks in Lebanon, Israeli soldiers occupied Maroun Al Ras village in southern Lebanon and claimed that the village was used by Hezbollah fighters.
Major-General Benny Gantz, the spokesperson of the Israeli ground forces, said on Saturday that “after a fierce battle with Hezbollah fighters, the army managed to control the village”.
He added that six Israeli soldiers were killed in the battle while Hezbollah gunmen suffered dozens of casualties in and around the village.
At least 2000 Israeli soldiers invaded southern Lebanon on Saturday, but some troops returned to the Israeli side of the borders later on.
Moreover, an Israeli spokesperson said that Israel is carrying what he described as “limited incursions” of a few kilometers into south Lebanon.
He added that the ground attack would widen, but so far “the operations will be limited”.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah reported that its fighters destroyed three Israeli tanks and injured their crew members near Maroun Al Ras; Israel did not confirm the news.
Hezbollah gunmen fired at least 50 Katusha rockets into northern Israel on Saturday hitting Carmiel, Nahariya, Kiryat Shmoneh and several settlements in the north including Bet Hilel, Mayan Baruch and Mashov, five Israelis were reportedly injured.
The Israeli army carried three aerial strikes that targeted a relay station used by Lebanese Television stations, mobile telephone networks in Christian areas north of Beirut, the Qatar based Al Jazeera Television reported.
The bombing started a fire at facilities used by Lebanese broadcasting corporation international. Suleiman Shidiyaq, head of the station in Fatqa, was killed and another person was wounded, Al Jazeera added.
Al Jazeera also reported that about 35.000 refugees arrived in Sidon (Saida) city alone.
Thousands of Lebanese civilians have fled north fearing Israel will invade and expand its 11-day-old bombardment which has already killed up to 362 people, the majority civilians.
Internationals continue to flee Lebanon, while ships and aircraft, continued to take more people from Lebanon to Cyprus and Turkey.
