### Israeli Army Reports Heavy Casualties in South Lebanon Clash

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM — The conflict between Israel and militant groups intensified as the Israeli military announced that four of its soldiers were killed in combat operations in southern Lebanon. These events unfolded amidst a backdrop of continued bombardments targeting Hezbollah and Hamas positions in Lebanon and Gaza, with fears of a broader regional war fueled by recent actions.

Over the past day, the Israeli military reported comprehensive operations against Hezbollah, resulting in the elimination of 70 fighters and the destruction of 120 targets in southern Lebanon. The operations included precise strikes on weapons factories and storage facilities within Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut. Concurrently, in Gaza, Israeli forces reported killing 40 militants, with heavy bombardments confirmed in the northern regions by correspondents and eyewitnesses.

This spike in conflict coincided with Israel marking the first anniversary of a deadly cross-border attack carried out by Hamas on October 7 the previous year. In response to the ongoing aggression, Iran, which had came under Israeli strikes targeting its military infrastructure, asserted its responsibility to retaliate, although it emphasized its current focus on establishing a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the precision attack on Iranian facilities had met its objectives, tempering concerns about further immediate Israeli assaults on Iran. In contrast, some Israeli officials, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and opposition figure Yair Lapid, hinted that the response to Iran could have been stronger.

The air strikes in Beirut and its suburbs prompted the Israeli military to issue fresh evacuation warnings to residents of 14 villages in southern Lebanon, urging them to move north of the Awali River. Lebanese reports indicated bombings in the southern cities of Tyre and Nabatiyeh, adding to the casualties counted since September.

According to an AFP tally based on official records, at least 1,615 people have lost their lives in Lebanon since the conflict escalated on September 23. Meanwhile, as ground operations in southern Lebanon continue, the death toll among Israeli soldiers has increased to 36 since September 30.

International response to these developments has been one of caution, with world powers calling for restraint. Despite Iran downplaying the damage from Israeli strikes and maintaining that it aims to prioritize ceasefire efforts, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei underscored the need for Iran to demonstrate its resolve and capabilities.

The recent strikes mark Israel's first publicized attack on Iranian targets following an incident on October 1, where Iran launched about 200 missiles at Israeli territory, killing one person despite most missiles being intercepted. The international community, particularly the United States, has called for calm, with US officials stating that Israel’s actions were conducted in self-defense without direct American military involvement.