Hezbollah, Israeli forces clash in Lebanon

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AFP March 05, 2026 Less than a minute read

Smoke billows over Khiam, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as pictured from Marjayoun, near the border with Israel, Lebanon November 9, 2024. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher

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BEIRUT:

Hezbollah said Wednesday its fighters were engaged in "direct" clashes with Israeli forces in the southern Lebanese town of Khiam, located about six kilometres from the border.

This is the first claim of a direct confrontation between the two sides since the war started on Monday.

The pro-Iran group said in a statement: "After monitoring the movements of an Israeli enemy army force that tried to advance" inside the town of Khiam, "the fighters of the Islamic Resistance detonated an explosive device and engaged in direct clashes with the force".

Israel on Tuesday said it was establishing a buffer zone inside Lebanon and had ordered its troops to seize additional positions across the border, as several projectiles were fired from Lebanese territory.