Hezbollah forces push back Israeli troops near UNIFIL post

The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah says its fighters have pushed Israeli forces to retreat after they crossed into Lebanon near a UN peacekeeping post on Tuesday.

According to a statement from the group, Hezbollah fighters opened fire on an Israeli contingent that infiltrated from behind the international forces’ position in Labboune, a border village.

“Infiltrating enemy force was forced to withdraw behind the border strip,” Hezbollah stated.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Hezbollah confirmed the attack on Israeli forces was carried out at 07:15 local time, targeting a gathering of Israeli forces in Maroun Al-Ras park.

On Sunday, a Hezbollah field officer told Al-Mayadeen that Resistance fighters had observed unusual movements of Israeli forces behind a UNIFIL military post on the outskirts of Maroun Al-Ras, a border town in southern Lebanon.

“The Islamic Resistance operations room instructed the fighters to hold off and avoid engaging with the movement to ensure the safety of the international forces' (UNIFIL) soldiers,” the officer said.

Israel is attempting to use UNIFIL soldiers as human shields to cover up failure to advance towards the village, especially after repeated failed attempts on more than one front to advance towards Maroun Al-Ras.

UNIFIL troops raised concerns after the Israeli forces deployed near their post southeast of Maroun Al-Ras, inside Lebanese territory. Israeli forces stationed themselves just meters away from the base of Irish peacekeepers.

In response, UNIFIL issued a statement condemning any actions that compromise the safety of peacekeepers as they carry out their mandated duties under the UN Security Council.

Images have also surfaced showing 40 Israeli military vehicles positioned near UNIFIL headquarters in southern Lebanon. Satellite images revealed a significant Israeli military presence – including troops and vehicles – near the UN base in Maroun Al-Ras.

Earlier on Tuesday, Hezbollah emphasized it had conducted numerous operations to counter the Israeli advance on the Lebanese border.

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