Hezbollah fighters raise their group flags during the funeral a Hezbollah commander and another fighter who were assassinated by an Israeli drone strike, in Chehabiyeh village, south Lebanon, April 17, 2024. (AP)

"The Israeli enemy has been speaking of the ground operation since last night, while launching a misinformation campaign and publishing photos and footage of said operation, but we affirm that no confrontations happened yesterday," Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc member of parliament Hassan Fadlallah said regarding the attempts at an Israeli ground incursion in South Lebanon.

The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah - had announced earlier today that its fighters confronted Israeli occupation forces on the southern border, across several confrontation axes, including an Israeli unit attempting to infiltrate into Maroun al-rass.

"I can confirm, without any exaggeration, that there's a heroic battle being conducted by the Resistance fighters right at the border," Fadlallah stressed earlier today, adding that the soul of Hezbollah's Scretary-General Martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is valiantly fighting [on the battlefield].

He further highlighted that despite the intense shelling, air raids, and drones, the Resistance succeeded in driving away Israeli helicopters even inside occupied Palestinian territories when confronted. The enemy is suffering significant losses among its ranks, and so far, they have not been able to invade any area, he confirmed.

He also emphasized the great resilience among Hezbollah's fighters, adding, that they have vowed to fight even more intensely since Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was martyred. The plans drawn by their martyred leader will be implemented, but with greater enthusiasm and motivation, Fadlallah relayed.

The main confrontations on Wednesday took place in Yaroun and Maroun al-Rass in the Bint Jbeil district, as well as Odeisseh in the Marjayoun district. The IOF's attempts to infiltrate the South were repelled, Fadlallah verified, expressing his utmost confidence and faith in the Resistance fighters.

The official also revealed that when the Israeli enemy forces were confronted by the Resistance's bravery, they resorted to targeting medican teams, ambulances, and health centers. However, the fighters remained undeterred and continued fulfilling their duty with tremendous acts of heroism which remain uncovered by the media as of now due to the intensity of confrontations.

'Israel' cannot harm Lebanon or the region

"When the Israeli enemy launched its large-scale aggression and committed its crime on Friday [referring to the assassination of Sayyed Nasrallah], and then continued the assassinations, and proceeded to murder civilians and destroy residential buildings, its goal was not only to 'disrupt the Resistance' but also to crush Hezbollah and defeat Lebanon and the region," Fadlallah continued.

Despite the US' continued support and international protection, Fadlallah noted that all the military bases that were supposed to protect the Israeli occupation were successfully targeted and struck by the Resistance's missiles, notably those located deep within occupied territory.

At the same time, he noted that "Israel assassinated the Secretary-General of Hezbollah and carried out strikes against civilian infrastructure, thinking it had achieved a significant victory, and wants to capitalize on this in ground operations."

"However", he stressed, "the word now belongs to the battlefield and no one else."

Fadlallah recalled the promise made by Martyr Sayyed Nasrallah when he vowed "You ["Israel"] will have no tanks, and your soldiers will enter vertically and leave horizontally," affirming that this is exactly what is happening on all combat axes.

Iran has not abandoned the Resistance

Fadlallah also addressed the accusations made against the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as the doubts raised by many skeptics questioning Iran’s stance and whether it had abandoned its support for the Resistance.

"Iran stands by the Resistance movements. It is a state that makes decisions based on its assessment of the situation, and Iran always surprises them," he declared.

He pointed out that these skeptics "do not understand what martyr Sayyed Nasrallah represents to the Iranian people, our nations, and the free people of the world," and that "the Iranian strike came to dispel all doubts raised and shock everyone, warning the enemy that it cannot do whatever it pleases."

According to Fadlallah, Iran had been waiting for the aggression to cease following Martyr Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran, because that was its priority at the time. However, its strike was "precise and successful, drawing a new course."

In this context, the Iranian retaliatory attack, the Yafa Feda'i operation, and the Lebanese Resistance's operations and confrontations will reshape the balance of power in the region, Fadlallah said, adding that it sends the enemy a message: "Here are your limits. You cannot continue to oppress, kill, massacre, and assassinate."

Lastly, he warned that "expanding the aggression will not be in the interest of the Israeli enemy or the imperialist forces that seek to dominate our region."

The Resistance protects its lands

The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon carried out 27 declared operations today, targeting Israeli occupation units trying to invade the Lebanese South, as well as positions inside occupied territories, military vehicles, and more, in defense of Lebanon and support of Gaza.

Israeli occupation forces admitted on Wednesday the deaths of eight occupation soldiers during confrontations with the Islamic Resistance fighters on the southern Lebanese border, including two captains.

According to Israeli Channel 12, the soldiers who were killed fell in two separate locations after being confronted by Resistance fighters at a close proximity.

Additionally, five other soldiers from the Egoz Commando Unit, including one officer, were wounded.

According to Israeli media, the IOF announced that 7 more Israeli soldiers were killed in confrontations with the Islamic Resistance in #Lebanon, including five from the Egoz Commando Unit.
Among the killed Israeli soldiers are two captains, three sergeants, and two staff… pic.twitter.com/EAXoH5K8AE
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 2, 2024