Israel accuses Iranian group of supporting Hezbollah in cross-border attacks

JERUSALEM

The Israeli army on Thursday accused an Iranian armed group of supporting the Lebanese group Hezbollah in carrying out cross-border attacks against Israel.

In a statement, military spokesman Avichai Adraee said members of the Imam Hossein Brigade group had arrived in southern Lebanon to provide assistance to Hezbollah.

According to the spokesman, the group, originally formed in Syria, engaged in clashes with the Israeli army on Lebanon’s border in recent weeks.

"Hezbollah and the Imam Hossein Brigade group are forcing Lebanon to pay a heavy price for Hamas," Adraee said.

Israel estimates the number of the group members at around 6,000 fighters.

Tension has flared along the border between Israel and Lebanon, with exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah amid an Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip.

At least 49 Hezbollah members have been killed in clashes with Israeli forces since Oct. 7.

The border clashes have been the deadliest since Hezbollah and Israel fought a full-scale war in 2006.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat