At least 15 Israeli troops were killed on Wednesday, the army confirmed early Thursday, as fierce fighting with Hizbullah members raged in the southern Lebanon villages of Ayta al-Shaab and Debel.
The 15 soldiers died in a series of firefights across the front. In the most serious incident, nine reserve paratroopers were killed and 11 injured by anti-tank missiles fired on a house in the village of Debel, in the central sector, Haaretz reported. Four reservists from an armored brigade were killed in a tank blast, likely caused by anti-tank missiles, in the town of Ayta al-Shaab. An infantryman died late Wednesday when he was hit by a mortar in Marjayoun.
In addition, 25 other Israeli soldiers were wounded in Wednesday's clashes, six seriously. Two of the seriously wounded were members of the standing army; the rest of the wounded were reservists.
According to the Israeli army, some 40 Hizbullah fighters were killed on Wednesday. Another 20 or so Hizbullah fighters have been killed over the past two days at Bint Jbail and Tiri, in the western sector, Israeli sources claimed.
Hizbullah fighters are equipped with powerful anti-tank missiles, which have previously caused losses among the Israeli troops in the area.
Also on Wednesday, Israeli operations were expanded to the eastern sector, where a division began operating near the towns of Marj Ayoun, Khiyam and Kila. The Israeli army said the operation in the eastern sector is not part of the plans approved Wednesday to expand the ground offensive, but merely a tactical maneuver.
The army is still waiting for a directive from the prime minister and defense minister to launch its larger operation that was approved Wednesday by the cabinet, and includes occupation of the area south of the Litani River.
