Hezbollah killed at least 14 Israeli soldiers during ground clashes in southern Lebanon, with numerous injuries reported among the troops, Sky News Arabia reported while quoting sources, as its military escalated operations against the armed group.

Israeli Channel 12 also noted the death of a third soldier from the Israeli Egoz Unit amid the fighting in the region.

This marks the deadliest day for the Israeli military on the Lebanon front in the past year amid ongoing clashes with the Iran-backed group.

Hezbollah confirmed that its fighters were engaged in ground clashes with Israeli forces inside Lebanon, marking the first such confrontations since Israel initiated its ground advance.

Israeli Army Radio reported that a commando unit engaged with Hezbollah fighters inside a building in a southern Lebanese village, necessitating the deployment of medical rescue teams to assist injured soldiers.

“During the rescue operation, Hezbollah fighters continued to fire mortar shells, prompting the Israeli forces to respond with heavy gunfire,” the report stated.

But the Israel Defence Forces in a social media post at 7:56pm (PST) confirmed the killing of only eight of its army men.

They are identified as Captain Eitan Itzhak Oster, Captain Harel Etinger, Captain Itai Ariel Giat, Sergeant First Class Noam Barzilay, Sergeant First Class Or Mantzur, Sergeant First Class Nazaar Itkin, Staff Sergeant Almken Terefe and Staff Sergeant Ido Broyer.

These developments follow an infiltration by the Israeli army into Lebanese territory, leading to escalating clashes along the Lebanese-Israeli border.

The Israeli military announced that regular infantry and armoured units were joining the ground operations in Lebanon. This escalation follows a missile strike on Israel by Iran, raising concerns about the potential for a broader conflict in the oil-rich Middle East.

Iran stated that its missile attack—its largest ever against Israel—was concluded unless provoked further. In response, both Israel and the United States vowed to retaliate strongly.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said that several missiles fired by Iran hit inside Israeli air force bases but did not cause any casualties or damage.

“During the Iranian attack yesterday (Tuesday), several missiles fell within Israeli air force bases. No offensive infrastructure or capabilities located on IAF (Israel Air Force) bases were damaged,” the military said, adding that no casualties or damage to aircraft were reported.

The Lebanese group stated that it also targeted three Israeli Merkava tanks with guided rockets in the village of Maroun al-Ras on the eastern side of the border.

UN chief urges ‘urgent action’ at UNSC meeting on Middle East crisis

In an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council regarding the escalating situation in the Middle East, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that “time is running out.”

He described the ongoing violence as “raging fires” that are quickly escalating into an “inferno.” Guterres noted that conditions have deteriorated significantly over the past week, stating that the situation has “gone from bad to much, much worse.”

While highlighting the Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon, Guterres mentioned a proposed temporary ceasefire that Israel had rejected while intensifying its military actions. He confirmed that UN peacekeepers remain in their positions and that the “UN flag continues to fly” despite Israel’s request for their relocation.

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He reiterated his strong condemnation of Iran’s recent missile attack on Israel, noting that earlier he had faced a ban from Israel for not condemning the attacks promptly.

Guterres emphasized the critical need to prevent an all-out war in Lebanon, warning that it would have “profound and devastating consequences.” He called for an immediate ceasefire to halt the escalating violence.