Israel escalates attacks across Lebanon as two soldiers killed

"Two Israeli soldiers have been killed in southern Lebanon, the country's first fatalities since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah resumed last week. The soldiers died on Sunday in combat, the Israeli military said. Master Sergeant Maher Khatar, aged 38, from Majdal Shams fell during combat in southern Lebanon, the military said, confirming that a second soldier died in the same incident."

"The deaths came as Israel widened its military campaign in Lebanon, striking for the first time into the heart of Beirut, a significant escalation in a conflict that has killed 394 people in Lebanon in a week, including 83 children, 42 women and nine rescue workers, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health."

"Israel said the attack targeted senior commanders of Iran's elite Quds Force, the overseas operations arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The commanders of the Quds Force's Lebanon Corps operated to advance terror attacks against the state of Israel, the Israeli military said."

Two Israeli soldiers died in combat in southern Lebanon on Sunday, marking the first Israeli fatalities since fighting with Hezbollah resumed last week. The deaths occurred as Israel significantly expanded its military campaign, striking Beirut's Raouche neighborhood for the first time—a major escalation. An Israeli drone hit a hotel targeting senior Iranian Quds Force commanders, killing at least four people and wounding ten. The conflict has resulted in 394 Lebanese deaths in one week, including 83 children, 42 women, and nine rescue workers. Fighting resumed after Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israel following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in joint Israeli-U.S. air strikes.

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