3 Israeli Soldiers Slain, 5 Hurt in Lebanon

Lebanese guerrillas ambushed an Israeli commando squad Tuesday, killing its commander and two officers and wounding five soldiers in a blow to Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

The troops were moving north of the Israeli-occupied zone when they ran into Hezbollah guerrillas, who opened fire at close range with automatic rifles and grenades.

The commandos fired back and called in helicopter gunships, warplanes and artillery support before being evacuated, the Israeli army said.

The three dead were the first Israeli fatalities in Lebanon this year. In addition, an Israeli officer and four soldiers were wounded, one seriously, the army said.

The loss is certain to increase debate in Israel ahead of May 17 elections about the cost of holding on to its occupied zone in southern Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters in Jerusalem that it was “a very, very bitter blow” and a “very big toll for Israel.”

He said one of the wounded was a personal friend, and he planned to visit the soldiers in the hospital.

Tuesday’s firefight occurred near the village of Meidoun, 15 miles north of the Israeli border.

The Iranian-backed Hezbollah said its fighters intercepted the Israeli commandos as they moved north of the occupied zone just after midnight.

The guerrillas fired automatic rifles and hurled grenades from about 12 feet away, the statement said.

Hezbollah said it suffered no casualties.

Maj. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, head of the Israeli army’s Northern Command, which is in charge of the Lebanon front, gave a similar account of the battle.

He told journalists that the unit was searching for the guerrillas, who surprised it and opened fire first.

Lebanese security officials said the Israeli warplanes called in by the unit fired four missiles after helicopter gunships repeatedly strafed valleys near Meidoun.

Israel has held the zone in southern Lebanon since 1985.