Israeli Forces Withdraw from Lebanese Border Village of Khiam After Failed Invasion Attempti
In a significant escalation along the Israel-Lebanon border, Israeli forces retreated from the Lebanese border village of Khiam after a failed two-day invasion attempt, reportedly thwarted by Hezbollah resistance. This withdrawal comes amid intensified Hezbollah operations, including targeted rocket and drone strikes on major Israeli military installations and northern settlements, as tensions surge in the region. The recent clashes have prompted widespread alerts and drone interceptions across northern Israel, fueling concerns over escalating violence and the growing reach of Hezbollah's military capabilities.
Israeli forces have retreated from the eastern neighborhood of Khiam, a border village in southern Lebanon, after a two-day attempt to invade the area ended in failure, Al Mayadeen reported. The Israeli forces began their withdrawal after midnight on Thursday, using around 40 white phosphorus projectiles, artillery shells, and a series of airstrikes to cover their exit.
Heavy shelling persisted in Khiam, focusing on the northern area of the Khiam detention camp and the eastern side of the municipality, where ground clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters unfolded for approximately 15 consecutive hours.
On Friday, Hezbollah announced that its fighters launched a barrage of advanced rockets at a gathering of Israeli troops in southern Khiam. During this period, Israeli Northern Command chief Major General Ori Gordin was reportedly injured when his vehicle overturned during an inspection tour along the Lebanese border. According to Hezbollah, the Israeli military has suffered substantial losses, with at least 95 Israeli soldiers killed and over 900 injured over the past month.
Hezbollah Launches Major Operations Targeting Key Israeli Military Sites
On Saturday, Hezbollah escalated its campaign, targeting the Israeli Military Intelligence Unit 8200’s Glilot Base in the suburbs of Tel Aviv with advanced rockets and a follow-up drone strike at 7:45 a.m. This operation is part of Hezbollah's "Khaybar" series, which the group says is a response to defend Lebanon, support Gaza, and resist Israeli aggression.
Under the rallying call "Labbayk Ya Nasrallah," Hezbollah deployed multiple attack drones on the Palmachim Airbase near Tel Aviv, which houses a military research center and radar systems for the Hetz (Arrow) missile defense system, reporting direct hits on the site. Additionally, the Zvulun Military Industries Base near Haifa was struck twice with rockets and missile salvos within two hours, and the Ramat David airbase also sustained direct hits from drones.
Further north, Hezbollah bombarded ELTA Systems—a prominent Israeli defense radar developer—near Haifa with rockets, while five settlements in northern Israel, including Yesud HaMa'ala, Dalton, Sha'al, Bar-Yohai, and Birya, came under sustained rocket fire. Hezbollah fighters also engaged Israeli soldiers directly in Maroun al-Ras, Safad, Bar-Yohai, and al-Malikiyah.
Non-Stop Alerts and Drone Infiltration in Northern Israel
Meanwhile, northern Israel experienced ongoing alerts as Israeli military radio reported drone infiltrations across wide areas. Israeli warplanes were deployed to intercept drones launched from Lebanon, with explosions heard across multiple sites. Local media reported that one drone exploded within a factory in the Achziv settlement in the western Golan.
Israeli media outlets have expressed heightened concern over Hezbollah’s drone attacks, noting their precision and impact on key Israeli military and infrastructure targets. Notably, a training camp in Binyamina and a high-profile attack on a private residence, reportedly near Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s home, have underscored Hezbollah’s reach and strategic focus in the current conflict.