A military engagement began on 1 October 2024 in the village of Ayta al-Shaab between Israel and Hezbollah, amid the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
| 2024 Ayta al-Shaab clashes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon | |||||||
Israel Hezbollah presence in Lebanon Areas ordered evacuated by Israel See here for a more detailed map. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Israel |
 Hezbollah | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
 Unknown 1+ tanks destroyed |
20+ fighters killed (IDF claim) | ||||||
Background
On 1 October 2024, Israel began an invasion of Lebanon as part of the 2024 Israel–Hezbollah war and the Israel–Hezbollah conflict, results of the spillover of the Israel–Hamas war. It began after Hezbollah faced a series of setbacks in September 2024 that degraded its capabilities[1][2] and eliminated most of its leadership;[3][4] beginning with the pager explosions,[5][6] followed by an Israeli aerial bombing campaign targeting Hezbollah throughout Lebanon,[7] killing over 800 and injuring at least 5,000 in a week, and culminating in the 27 September assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.[8][9]
The IDF claimed that since the onset of the Israel–Hezbollah conflict in October 2023 and leading up to the October 2024 ground operation, it had destroyed 103 "terror targets" in Ayta al-Shaab, including 51 tunnel shafts and nine rocket launchers, with tunnels reaching approximately 25 meters deep.[10]
Battle
The battle started in the Nurit between Ayta al-Shaab and the border between Lebanon and Israel. On October 1, under heavy air support by the Israeli Air Force, the 98th Division penetrated into the Nurit area.[11] Soon the IDF troops entered the village and systematically began destroying Hezbollah's above ground and underground infrastructure including a large scale tunnel including an underground weapons warehouse, a command room, and residential quarters.[12] The troops launched house to house search operations uncovering an underground barracks and a training grounds which were subsequently destroyed.[13]
The troops from the 91st Division were also deployed to the village and around 20 militants were killed in the battle.[14]
On 8 October, the village was reported to have been under Israeli control as the IDF began its second phase of operations in southern Lebanon.[15]
On 12 October, the village residents were forced to evacuate following the extensive bombardment of the village by UAVs and aircraft.[16] On October 14, Hezbollah claimed that its fighters killed or injured Israeli soldiers by targeting an armoured personnel carrier using a guided missile in Ayta al-Shaab. It also said that it engaged in fighting with Israeli soldiers in the village.[17]
On 21 October, several IDF tanks entered Ayta al-Shaab, intensifying combat in the region. IDF soldiers blew up several buildings in the village.[18]
On 24 October, Hezbollah reported that its fighters were engaged in ongoing "intense" clashes against IDF vehicles in the village. On the same day, Hezbollah said that it destroyed an Israeli tank with a guided missile, killing and wounding the soldiers inside.[19]
References
- ^ "After the decapitation of Hizbullah, Iran could race for a nuclear bomb". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ Ibish, Hussein (30 September 2024). "Hezbollah Got Caught in Its Own Trap". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ Mackenzie, James; Gebeily, Maya; Lubell, Maayan (1 October 2024). "Israel says it's raiding Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon, group fires at Israel". Reuters.
- ^ Nakhoul, Samia; Hafezi, Parisa; Lubell, Maayan (29 September 2024). "Nasrallah's killing reveals depth of Israel's penetration of Hezbollah". Reuters.
- ^ Lidman, Melanie; Mroue, Bassem; Hatoum, Bassam (23 September 2024). "Israeli strikes kill 492 in Lebanon's deadliest day of conflict since 2006". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ El Deeb, Sarah (20 September 2024). "Hezbollah commander killed in Israeli airstrike was top military official on US wanted list". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Stroul, Dana (23 September 2024). "Israel and Hezbollah Are Escalating Toward Catastrophe". Foreign Affairs. ISSN 0015-7120. Archived from the original on 5 October 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "Hezbollah confirms its leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike". Associated Press. 28 September 2024. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Mroue, Bassem; Lidman, Melanie (28 September 2024). "Hezbollah confirms its leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ "IDF invasion of southern Lebanon meets no Hezbollah resistance". The Jerusalem Postm. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ Nziv (30 September 2024). "דיווחים סותרים: כוחות צה"ל חודרים לשטח לבנון בחיפוי אווירי כבד. עדכונים מהשטח ממקורות ערביים בלבד". Nziv.net (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "כך נראית הפעילות בלבנון – ממצלמות הגוף של הלוחמים". Israel Defense Force (IDF). 1 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "מתחילת המלחמה יצא צה"ל לעשרות מבצעים קרקעיים – בתוך לבנון" [Since the beginning of the war, the IDF has embarked on dozens of ground operations - inside Lebanon]. Israel Defense Force (IDF). 1 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "עוצבת 'הגליל' החלה בפעילות קרקעית ממוקדת בדרום לבנון" [HaGalil design began focused ground operations in southern Lebanon]. Israel Defense Force (IDF). 7 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ בוחבוט, אמיר (8 October 2024). "מחסלים מאות מחבלים, משמידים מנהרות: כך נלחמת אוגדה 98 בדרום לבנון - וואלה חדשות" [Killing hundreds of terrorists, destroying tunnels: this is how the 98th Division fights in southern Lebanon]. וואלה (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ Motamedi, Maziar; Uras, Umut (12 October 2024). "Israeli military issues threats to residents of 22 Lebanese towns". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
The Israeli military has told residents of another 22 towns and villages in southern Lebanon to immediately evacuate or risk being killed, ostensibly due to "Hezbollah elements, facilities or weapons" being present in the large areas. "You are prohibited from heading south, and any movement towards the south poses a danger to your life," an Israeli army spokesman said on X, adding that residents must move north of al-Awali Sea. Many of the towns, including Aita al-Shaab, Ramyah and Hanine, have already been extensively bombed by Israeli fighter jets and drones.
- ^ Jamal, Urooba; Uras, Umut (14 October 2024). "Hezbollah claims killing of Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
The Lebanese group says it has engaged in fighting with Israeli soldiers in the village of Aita al-Shaab. According to a statement, Hezbollah fighters targeted an armoured personnel carrier with a guided missile. The vehicle caught fire and soldiers inside were killed and wounded, it added.
- ^ "Israeli tanks enter Aita al-Shaab". L'Orient Today. 21 October 2024.
- ^ Pietromarchi, Virginia. "Israel shells Gaza hospital as dozens of Palestinians killed in attacks". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 24 October 2024.