
Israeli ground forces have reached their deepest point in Lebanon since they invaded the country on October 1, the news agency Associated Press reported on Sunday (Nov 17) citing Lebanese state media.
According to state media, Israeli forces briefly captured a strategic hill in the southern village of Chamaa, about five kilometres from the border. The troopsblew up the Shrine of Shimon the Prophet in Chamaa as well as several homes, but this could not be verified.
Israel and Iran-aligned Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have exchanged fire for over a year in parallel with the Gaza war. But fighting has escalated since late September, with Israel intensifying bombing on swathes ofLebanon's south and east and making ground incursions into border villages.
Amid the above claims from Lebanese state media, the Israeli military said in a statement that its troops continued limited and localised operations in southern Lebanon.
State media also reported thatIsraeli warplanes pounded Beirut’s southern suburbs known as Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold, and several other areas including the port city of Tyre.
The death toll due to the ongoing conflict in Lebanon has climbed to 3,452 and more than 14,600 people have been injured, the Lebanese health ministry said on Saturday.
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In the latest news from the conflict, an Israeli strike hit south Beirut on Sunday where the military said it targeted Hezbollah, hours after the Lebanese militant group said it fired on Israeli bases around the city of Haifa.
(With inputs from agencies)