An Israeli soldier was killed and 13 others injured during an operation to seize a major underground Hezbollah base in Lebanon early Saturday, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. in the village of Kafr Tibnit, Nabatieh, when rockets and drones targeted Israeli positions. The deceased soldier, Nir Ben Ari, 21, was a member of the Maglan unit of the Commando Brigade. Two of the injured soldiers are reported to be in critical condition.

The IDF stated that the underground base beneath the al-Taher mountain range serves as the main center for Hezbollah’s Badr regional division, where heavy fighting continues both underground and above ground. A day earlier, four Israeli soldiers, including Lieutenant Colonel Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, were killed in a similar attempt to capture the same base.

Following the latest attack, Israel launched extensive airstrikes across southern and eastern Lebanon. Lebanese media and rescue workers reported at least 27 deaths and 26 injuries from the Israeli strikes. The IDF said it has paused attacks outside the declared “security zone” but will continue operations within it.