At least eight Israeli soldiers were wounded by Hezbollah rocket fire near the southern Lebanon border on Friday, according to Israeli media reports. Among the injured was the son of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The Lebanese resistance said it targeted concentrations of Israeli troops. Israel’s military confirmed that a rocket struck a group of soldiers, injuring eight—five of them seriously. The wounded, who serve in the Givati Brigade, were evacuated to hospitals for treatment. Smotrich’s office later confirmed that his son was among those hurt in the હુમble. The incident came just one day after Smotrich declared that Israel would make Beirut "look like Khan Yunis."
AFP/Getty ImagesHezbollah has continued carrying out drone and rocket strikes on Israeli positions, targeting forces both inside Lebanon and across the border. In a statement issued Friday evening, the group said its fighters launched a guided missile at Israeli troops entrenched in the Blat al-Mustaqbal area of southern Lebanon, claiming a direct hit.The organization also reported drone strikes on Kiryat Shmona, a rocket attack on a base in Safad, and roughly a dozen additional operations.Israel recently launched a ground incursion into Lebanon after the Iran-aligned resistance movement reopened the northern front amid the broader conflict. Israeli troops have crossed into Lebanese territory, while additional forces remain stationed in areas previously occupied following the 2024 ceasefire agreement.Since the start of ground operations, Hebrew-language media outlets have referenced several "serious security incidents," though details remain tightly censored. On March 5, the Israeli military confirmed that an army officer had been wounded in clashes with Hezbollah fighters.The renewed fighting has coincided with ongoing Israeli airstrikes across southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as in Beirut. Since March 2, more than 200 people in Lebanon have reportedly been killed by Israeli attacks.Meanwhile, Al Jadeed TV reported that France has put forward a proposal aimed at ending the war in Lebanon in exchange for what it described as Hezbollah’s "complete surrender." Hezbollah has rejected the notion of any party negotiating on its behalf, stating that when the time comes for formal talks, it will represent itself. The group also maintains that the previous ceasefire agreement was flawed.Despite the November 2024 ceasefire, Israeli forces have continued near-daily operations in southern Lebanon, resulting in hundreds of casualties. In response to the broader regional escalation this week, Hezbollah and possibly other groups resumed intermittent missile launches into northern Israel.