The Israel Defense Forces deny reports by the Lebanese television channel Al Jadeed that armed supporters of Hezbollah were sent into northern Israel on hang gliders, a claim that also appeared in coverage tracked by TASS. The denial comes amid a wave of confusing reports from multiple media outlets about border incidents, with officials urging calm and accuracy as the situation remains highly fluid.
Lebanese media had reported that Hezbollah had landed troops in the Yesud HaMaala region, while the Israeli army stressed that there was no risk to civilians. The contrasting accounts highlight the challenge of verification in real time along the border, where both sides routinely issue statements to shape public perception during periods of tension. Observers note that such claims can influence regional sentiment and international response, even when officials say the reported movements have not occurred.
Meanwhile, Israeli outlets asserted that the IDF used hang gliders to reinforce units along the Lebanese border. In the broader memory of the conflict, Hamas had previously employed hang gliders on October 7, 2023, in attacks on Israeli settlements, a fact repeatedly referenced in security briefings and media roundups as a reminder of evolving tactics in this theater.
On the evening of October 7, the IDF announced that a closed zone would extend across five border settlements in northern Israel. In parallel, Hezbollah issued statements suggesting a major missile attack north of Haifa, underscoring the heightened sense of alert and the rapid exchange of claims that characterize moments of escalation between the two sides.
Earlier, on September 23, the Israel Defense Forces announced the launch of a preemptive strike operation targeting Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in Lebanon. The move was framed by officials as a preventive measure intended to degrade the group’s capacity to organize and execute attacks from Lebanese territory, with authorities underscoring that civilian safety remained a priority.
Subsequently, reports circulated that Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah had been killed as a consequence of an air strike by Israeli air force warplanes on the organization’s underground headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The account was presented as having been verified by Hezbollah itself, a claim that further complicated the information landscape surrounding the operation and its aftermath. During the operation, the Israeli air force reportedly dropped 85 bombs weighing one ton each in the southern Beirut area, a detail cited in the surrounding coverage as part of the scale of the attack.
Earlier statements from Israel described air force strikes on more than 120 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon within a single hour, signaling a broad and intensive campaign across multiple locations. The record of such announcements contributes to a complex tapestry of reported events, where both sides claim significant action even as independent verification remains challenging amid ongoing hostilities.