Hezbollah announces 2 fighters killed in southern Lebanon

BEIRUT

Hezbollah Saturday announced that two fighters were killed fighting the Israeli army in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese group said it mourned the two members who were "martyred while performing their jihadist (fighting) duty."

It, however, did not give additional details about how its fighters were killed.

The death toll of Hezbollah affiliates killed in confrontations with the Israeli army has jumped to 16 since Oct. 7.

Tensions have flared along the Israeli-Lebanese border amid an exchange of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

The escalation came amid Israeli airstrikes against the Gaza Strip following an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group, Hamas, into Israeli border positions and settlements.

Hezbollah has fought several wars with Israel, the latest in 2006, during which the Lebanese group struck major Israeli cities with rockets, causing significant property damage.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar