Hezbollah Commandos Engage Israeli Armor in Southern Lebanon While Launching Precision Missile Strikes on Tel Aviv

Hezbollah claims precision missile hits on Israel's Defense Ministry and intelligence sites as ground battles intensify near the Lebanese town of Qantara.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 26, 2026, 3:45 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Anadolu Agency

Intense Ground Engagements on the Road to Qantara

Hezbollah fighters initiated a series of direct clashes with Israeli Defense Forces in southern Lebanon early Thursday, utilizing a combination of light and medium weaponry. The tactical engagement centered on the strategic route leading to the town of Qantara, where the militant group deployed rocket propelled projectiles against advancing Israeli units. According to a statement from the group, their anti tank units successfully targeted an Israeli Merkava tank with a guided missile, asserting that the strike resulted in a confirmed hit and significant damage to the armored vehicle.

Precision Strikes Target Israel’s Central Military Infrastructure

While ground battles raged in the south, Hezbollah extended its operational reach into central Israel by launching precision missiles at the greater Tel Aviv area. The group specifically identified their targets as the Kirya complex, which serves as the headquarters for Israel’s Ministry of Defense, and the Dolphin barracks associated with the Military Intelligence Directorate. These strikes triggered widespread warning sirens across the heart of the country, forcing civilians into shelters and marking a significant escalation in the group's ability to threaten Israel's primary command and control centers.

Humanitarian Toll of the Month-Long Ground Offensive

The current military friction is part of a broader Israeli ground offensive and air campaign that began following a Hezbollah cross border attack on March 2. Lebanese health authorities report that the sustained Israeli bombardment has resulted in at least 1,094 fatalities and left over 3,110 people injured. The scale of the destruction across southern Lebanon reflects the intensity of the Israeli effort to push Hezbollah forces back from the border, even as the militant group maintains its ability to conduct both guerrilla warfare and long range missile operations.