Major battle continues at Maroun el Ras

This major battle has claimed lives of six Israel soldiers, and injured 18. Hezbollah losses have been considerably higher, but they still continue to throw men at the IDF.

This is mostly a ground fight, with the IDF soldiers fighting tough, highly-trained fighters on unfamiliar terrain without air or tank cover. Choppers are not being used because of anti-air missiles and tanks in rugged mountain terrain are at a disadvantage.

The fighting performance of the Maglen Special Unit 551 and the Egoz paratroopers has been especially noteworthy. The motto of IDF officers and NCO's is `Follow Me' and the Israeli custom of officers and NCOs leading their men into battle has led to the high proportion of fallen sergeants.


There are some reports by Israeli troop of hearing officers shouting in Farsi.In Jenin in 2002, Israeli forces encountered Hezbollah and al Qaeda fighters in support of Palestinians. It appears that now they are facing members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards who are aiding Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Many of Hezbollah's troops have been trained trained in Iranian Revolutionary Guards facilities and their commanders are graduates of their officers’ schools. The IDF has needed time to adaapt to their tactics on Hezbollah's home ground.

This is a key battle that Israel has to win. Hezbolah and their supporters are throwing everything thyehave into stopping the IDF...and with Israeli troops massing on the border, a victory here could be the breakthrough in this war.