"Israeli forces avoid 8 fighters and tanks"...Are you struggling with ground war?

[Anchor]
It says eight people have been killed for the first time since Israeli forces entered a ground war in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah claims it has also destroyed several tanks as it confronts it with hundreds of rockets, indicating signs of fierce ground war resistance.

Reporter Jeong Yu-shin's report.

[Reporter]
Israeli forces across Lebanon's southern border on the 1st continued ground fighting by mobilizing helicopters and tanks.

The Israeli military says it has removed more than 150 Hezbollah terror-related facilities in two days.

However, Hezbollah's resistance was not as strong as expected.

On the 2nd local time, the Israeli military announced on social media that eight of its troops had been killed in Lebanon.

Two officers and four soldiers were killed in combat in the 621 Special Reconnaissance Unit, and a scout and a medic from the infantry division were also killed.

It was the first time that nearly 10 people died after entering a limited ground war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered his condolences to the bereaved family, saying he was killed in the face of Iran's axis of evil.

[Benyamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel] Rest in peace. We're fighting a tough war with Iran's axis of evil that is trying to annihilate us. I hope this doesn't happen anymore....]

Hezbollah has claimed it has retreated after two close battles since Israeli forces invaded across the border.

In the southern town of Maroon Alas, it said Israel had destroyed three state-of-the-art Mercaba tanks with anti-tank rockets.

[Mohamed Afif, Hezbollah Spokesperson] Our army fought the first heroic battle. Today's work is just the beginning of what is to come for the (Israel) occupation forces.

In northern Israel, which borders Lebanon, more than 200 rockets fired by Hezbollah continued overnight air raid warnings.

Most were intercepted, but Israeli residents were forced to stay up all night following a major Iranian missile strike the day before.

Israel has added additional infantry troops to ground operations in southern Lebanon and continued airstrikes in the capital Beirut.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati appealed to the international community for an immediate ceasefire, saying 1.2 million people were displaced by Israeli attacks.

This is YTN Jeong Yu-shin.