Israeli Forces Conduct Helicopter Raid in Lebanon; 16 Dead in Strikes

Israeli military forces conducted an unusual helicopter-borne operation in eastern Lebanon overnight, landing troops near the town of Nabi Chit before withdrawing under fire. The operation was followed by intense airstrikes that killed 16 people in the area over a 24-hour period.

BEIRUT – Israeli military forces executed an uncommon helicopter assault in eastern Lebanon during overnight hours, according to local residents and Lebanese government media reports Saturday, while intensive Israeli bombardments in the region resulted in over a dozen fatalities.

The Middle Eastern nation found itself drawn further into regional warfare this past Monday after Iran-supported Hezbollah fired rockets and unmanned aircraft toward Israel, prompting Israel to respond with extensive bombing campaigns throughout Lebanon’s southern regions, eastern areas, and zones close to Beirut.

During nighttime operations, Israeli helicopters transported soldiers to an area near Nabi Chit in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley, according to Lebanese government media and local witnesses. Local residents and Hezbollah militants opened fire on the soldiers as they advanced on foot, according to these accounts.

The Israeli forces retreated and departed via helicopter while Israeli airstrikes hammered Nabi Chit and surrounding communities, government media and witnesses reported. Israel’s military had not provided an immediate response to Reuters’ inquiries about the operation.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported that 16 individuals were killed in Israeli attacks during the previous 24-hour period in Nabi Chit. A ministry representative informed Reuters that this count included casualties from strikes throughout Friday as well as during heavy overnight bombardments, with expectations that the number would continue climbing.

Two security officials confirmed to Reuters that three military personnel were among those killed.

Israeli bombardments have resulted in over 200 deaths throughout Lebanon, while evacuation orders have forced approximately 300,000 people from their homes, with only one-third currently housed in official government shelters.

Shawki al-Masri, a resident of a community neighboring Nabi Chit, characterized the overnight bombing campaign as “a night of hell.”

“We heard the helicopters over our house all night – they were so low we thought they would land on us,” he told Reuters.

“People in the town woke up and started shooting at them, then the warplanes started bombing. It was a very violent night and only calmed down when the sun came up,” he said.

In an overnight statement, Hezbollah reported that it had engaged Israeli soldiers who had been transported near Nabi Chit by four Israeli helicopters. The organization stated that the Israeli forces pulled back.

Although Israeli military units are conducting ground campaigns in southern Lebanon, advancing further into border village areas, helicopter-based operations remain uncommon. During a 2024 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli naval personnel abducted an individual from a Lebanese coastal community.

The United Nations issued a warning Saturday that the conflict was poised to become “even worse,” emphasizing that negotiations between Israel and Lebanon “must be pursued with urgency” to halt the fighting.

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert stated that it was “clear that ongoing military actions will not deliver a lasting win to anyone.”

“Rather, they will only deepen instability and inflict further suffering,” she said.