Israeli airborne raid reported in eastern Lebanon as Israel-Hezbollah war enters second week

Beirut/Jerusalem March 9 – Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with Israeli troops during an overnight Israeli airborne raid in eastern Lebanon, the group reported on Monday, in what would be the second such operation in the area in recent days as the war between Israel and the Iran-backed movement entered its second week.

A spokesperson for the Israeli military did not immediately comment when asked about the Hezbollah statement.

Hezbollah said the clash occurred after Israeli forces conducted an airborne operation in eastern Lebanon, an area where the group maintains a presence. The statement did not provide further details on the scale of the raid or whether there were casualties.

The reported raid comes amid intensifying hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which have exchanged attacks since the conflict escalated last week. The war marks one of the most serious confrontations between Israel and the Lebanese armed group in years.

Israeli officials have said the military campaign is aimed at weakening Hezbollah’s operational and financial capabilities.

Separately, the Israeli military said it planned to strike a financial body associated with Hezbollah, according to a statement, underscoring Israel’s effort to disrupt the group’s funding channels as the fighting continues.

Hezbollah, backed by Iran and one of the most heavily armed non-state groups in the Middle East, has long maintained military infrastructure across parts of Lebanon, including areas close to the Israeli border.