Battle of Maroun al-Ras
| Battle of Maroun al-Ras | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of 2006 Lebanon War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Israel Defense Forces
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 Hezbollah
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| Strength | |||||||
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Egoz Reconnaissance Unit Units from Air Force and Artillery |
17 fighters (Hezbollah claim) | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 8 killed | 13 killed (official Israeli account) 7 (according to Hezbollah) 1 Amal commander killed |
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| No civilian casualties reported | |||||||
Egoz Reconnaissance Unit
Sayeret Maglan
5135th Paratroopers' recon company
Engineering Corps Battalion
Tanks from 7th, 188th and 401st brigades
The Battle of Maroun al-Ras was a battle of the 2006 Lebanon War that took place in Maroun ar-Ras, a small village in southern Lebanon on the border with Israel, and Jall ad-Dayr, a nearby Hizbullah stronghold. This battle was the first serious ground battle in the 2006 Lebanon war. It was fought to a large extent by elite forces on both sides and would have huge consequences for the future of the war. Although Israeli forces captured most of the town, they did not fully secure it.
There are two different Israeli versions about how the battle of Maroun ar-Ras actually started. According to Gal Hirsch, commander of the 91st Division, a unit of 18 soldiers from the elite Maglan Special Forces were sent out to occupy a Hezbollah position on mount Jall ad-Dayr, from which the nearby Israeli village of Avivim had been shelled, as well as the small nearby village of Maroun ar-Ras. If that version is true it would seem that the IDF had grossly underestimated Hezbollah strength. According to the IDF General Command however, the Maglan unit was on a reconnaissance mission and under strict orders to avoid Hezbollah strongholds or Shiite villages. According to this version the Maglan unit walked into the Hezbollah stronghold by mistake.
After a steep climb up the hill on July 19, the 18-man squad from the Israeli Maglan Special Forces finally reached the summit next to the village. The Israeli soldiers realized that they were surrounded by Hezbollah positions. The squad was instructed to make contact during daylight and a violent close range clash ensued, St.-Sgt. Yonatan Hadasi has been hit from close range and St.-Sgt. Yotam Gilboa, the squad paramedic rushed to his rescue and has also been hit from close range. Both were instantly killed and additional nine were injured.. Maj. Amit Ze'evi took over, slapping several soldiers into action. Israel subsequently claims to have killed 5 Hezbollah militants in the clash.
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Wikipedia