Hezbollah says Israel forced to retreat from border area of Labouneh

Hezbollah said on Tuesday that its forces prevented the Israeli army from advancing towards the border area of Labouneh in southern Lebanon.

"As an enemy Zionist force advanced at 2:00 AM on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, towards the border area of Labouneh, supported by bulldozers and vehicles, our fighters rained artillery and rocket fire on them, causing confirmed casualties and forcing them to retreat," the group said in a statement reported by al-Mayadeen channel. 

It also reported "direct confrontation between the resistance and a special Israeli force that infiltrated from behind a Unifil position in Labouneh", referring to the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

Satellite images on Tuesday showed 40 Israeli military vehicles near Unifil's base in Maroun al-Ras, southern Lebanon.

Unifil rejected the Israeli army deployment as an acceptable compromise for the safety of the blue helmets.