(KUNA) -- Eight Israeli soldiers were killed and 22 injured, three seriously, in fighting with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, the Israeli army confirmed Wednesday. Haaretz newspaper, through its website, quoted military sources as saying the casualties among the Israeli forces took place in Maroun Al-Ras village and Bint Jbeil town in the middle sector of southern Lebanon.The source said the fighting in these two areas "were the most difficult facing the Israeli army for long years." An elite unit in the Israeli army was advacing and found itself in a landmine field which was followed by a fierce attack by Hezbollah fighters who were using light weapons and mortar shells, said the sources.
When the landmines exploded, "scores of terrorists appeared suddenly and launched a face-to-face attack with our soldiers. It was a tough battle, the toughest we have faced in years," they added. Three of the injured are in "very critical conditions," the sources added.