Five Israeli soldiers were killed in combat in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Four of the men were reservists aged from 22 to 42. A further six soldiers had been seriously injured in the engagement and transported to hospitals in Israel, the IDF said. Separately the 23-year-old leader of a canine unit was killed.
Israeli media reported that the reservists had been surprised by Hezbollah militiamen emerging from a shaft who threw hand grenades at them as they entered a village.
The deaths bring the total number of Israeli soldiers killed since the ground offensive into southern Lebanon began three weeks ago to 22, according to media reports.
According to IDF figures, a total of 757 Israeli soldiers have died in combat since the October 7 attack from the Gaza Strip last year.
