Battle of Odaisseh

On 1 October 2024, Israel began an invasion of Lebanon as part of the 2024 Israel–Hezbollah war and the Israel–Hezbollah conflict, results of the spillover of the Gaza war. It began after Hezbollah faced a series of setbacks in September 2024 that degraded its capabilities{{Cite news |title=After the decapitation of Hizbullah, Iran could race for a nuclear bomb |url=https://www.economist.com/briefing/2024/09/30/iran-could-race-for-the-bomb-after-the-decapitation-of-hizbullah |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001001703/https://www.economist.com/briefing/2024/09/30/iran-could-race-for-the-bomb-after-the-decapitation-of-hizbullah |archive-date=1 October 2024 |access-date=1 October 2024 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}{{Cite web |last=Ibish |first=Hussein |date=30 September 2024 |title=Hezbollah Got Caught in Its Own Trap |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2024/09/hezbollah-got-caught-its-own-trap/680076/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001002041/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2024/09/hezbollah-got-caught-its-own-trap/680076/ |archive-date=1 October 2024 |access-date=1 October 2024 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}} and eliminated most of its leadership;{{Cite news |last1=Mackenzie |first1=James |last2=Gebeily |first2=Maya |last3=Lubell |first3=Maayan |date=1 October 2024 |title=Israel says it's raiding Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon, group fires at Israel |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-military-has-begun-limited-raids-against-hezbollah-targets-border-area-2024-09-30/ |work=Reuters}}{{Cite news |last1=Nakhoul |first1=Samia |last2=Hafezi |first2=Parisa |last3=Lubell |first3=Maayan |date=29 September 2024 |title=Nasrallah's killing reveals depth of Israel's penetration of Hezbollah |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/nasrallahs-killing-reveals-depth-israels-penetration-hezbollah-2024-09-28/ |work=Reuters}} beginning with the pager explosions,{{Cite web |last1=Lidman |first1=Melanie |last2=Mroue |first2=Bassem |last3=Hatoum |first3=Bassam |date=23 September 2024 |title=Israeli strikes kill 492 in Lebanon's deadliest day of conflict since 2006 |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-lebanon-hezbollah-e3ca9c83642056f962fdf76319e3b8de |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924060908/https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-lebanon-hezbollah-e3ca9c83642056f962fdf76319e3b8de |archive-date=24 September 2024 |access-date=24 September 2024 |website=Associated Press}}{{Cite web |last=El Deeb |first=Sarah |date=20 September 2024 |title=Hezbollah commander killed in Israeli airstrike was top military official on US wanted list |url=https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-hezbollah-israel-mideast-tensions-attack-8ec89de2b117b52e2c09b19155e35d13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240929181149/https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-hezbollah-israel-mideast-tensions-attack-8ec89de2b117b52e2c09b19155e35d13 |archive-date=29 September 2024 |access-date=30 September 2024 |website=Associated Press |language=en}} followed by an Israeli airstrikes campaign targeting Hezbollah throughout Lebanon,{{Cite news |last=Stroul |first=Dana |date=23 September 2024 |title=Israel and Hezbollah Are Escalating Toward Catastrophe |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/israel-and-hezbollah-are-escalating-toward-catastrophe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241005002526/https://www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/israel-and-hezbollah-are-escalating-toward-catastrophe |archive-date=5 October 2024 |access-date=29 September 2024 |work=Foreign Affairs |language=en-US |issn=0015-7120}} killing over 800 and injuring at least 5,000 in a week, and culminating in the 27 September assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.{{Cite web |date=28 September 2024 |title=Hezbollah confirms its leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike |url=https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-airstrikes-28-september-2024-c4751957433ff944c4eb06027885a973 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240928081831/https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-airstrikes-28-september-2024-c4751957433ff944c4eb06027885a973 |archive-date=28 September 2024 |access-date=28 September 2024 |website=Associated Press |language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Mroue |first1=Bassem |last2=Lidman |first2=Melanie |date=28 September 2024 |title=Hezbollah confirms its leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/28/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-airstrikes-28-september-2024/c19a099a-7d69-11ef-980d-341a84fdff8f_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003161108/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/28/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-airstrikes-28-september-2024/c19a099a-7d69-11ef-980d-341a84fdff8f_story.html |archive-date=3 October 2024 |access-date=1 October 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

On 1 October, Hezbollah claimed that it had targeted IDF soldiers in towns opposite of Odaisseh.{{cite news |date=1 October 2024 |title=ن غفير: القوات الإسرائيلية تخوض حاليا قتالا في ظروف ليست سهلة في جنوب لبنان |trans-title=Ben Gvir: Israeli forces are currently fighting in difficult conditions in southern Lebanon |url=https://www.elnashra.com/news/show/1687746/غفير-القوات-الإسرائيلية-تخوض-حاليا-قتالا-ظروف-ليست |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001164928/https://www.elnashra.com/news/show/1687746/غفير-القوات-الإسرائيلية-تخوض-حاليا-قتالا-ظروف-ليست |archive-date=1 October 2024 |access-date=1 October 2024 |work=Elnashra |language=Arabic}}

On 2 October, Hezbollah stated that Israeli forces were ambushed by Hezbollah fighters in Odaisseh and forced to retreat while attempting to dismantle militant infrastructure. Six soldiers from the Egoz Unit were killed in the clash and several others were injured, including five critically. The IDF said that another 20 Hezbollah militants were killed during the clash.{{Cite web |date=2 October 2024 |title=Hezbollah says it forced Israeli soldiers to retreat from Lebanese town |url=https://aje.io/z1c3x6?update=3216228 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004230019/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/10/1/israels-war-on-gaza-israel-says-it-will-respond-to-iran-missile-attacks?update=3216228 |archive-date=4 October 2024 |access-date=3 October 2024 |website=Al Jazeera}}{{Cite news |date=2 October 2024 |title=In first fatalities of Lebanon ground op, 8 IDF soldiers killed in battle with Hezbollah |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-fatalities-of-lebanon-ground-op-8-idf-soldiers-killed-in-battle-with-hezbollah/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002214248/https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-fatalities-of-lebanon-ground-op-8-idf-soldiers-killed-in-battle-with-hezbollah/ |archive-date=2 October 2024 |access-date=2 October 2024 |work=The Times of Israel}}

Early in the morning on 2 October 2024, a force of the Egoz unit moved towards the village, they were observed before their arrival, and Radwan Force militants set up an ambush. Amongst the heavy fog, the Egoz Unit personnel entered one of the buildings in the village, around 04:30 in the morning, when they were attacked from several directions.{{Cite news |title=קרב גבורה: כל מה שאפשר לספר על נפילת שישה לוחמי אגוז בלבנון |trans-title=Heroic battle: everything that can be told about the fall of six Nut fighters in Lebanon |url=https://www.maariv.co.il/news/military/article-1137370 |accessdate=5 October 2024 |website=Ma'ariv Online}} Under the haze and fog, the Israeli Air Force could not provide combat support so the special operatives from the Unit 669 were deployed to rescue and evacuate the trapped personnel.{{Cite news |author=Avi Ashkenazi |title=קרבות עזים בלבנון: צה"ל הכניס את "מכונת המלחמה" למערכה |trans-title=Fierce battles in Lebanon: The IDF brought the "war machine" into the campaign |url=https://www.maariv.co.il/news/military/article-1137265 |accessdate=5 October 2024 |website=Ma'ariv Online}} At a point in the battle, the Hezbollah militants tried to kidnap the dead bodies of Egoz Unit personnel but were thwarted in this attempt.{{Cite news |title=התמרון הקרקעי בלבנון: סוכל ניסיון חטיפת גופה בתקרית באמצעות אגוז, אומרים בצה"ל - זה הרגע שבו יוכלו תושבי מטולה לחזור לבתיהם |trans-title=The ground maneuver in Lebanon: an attempt to abduct a body in the incident with a nut was thwarted, the IDF says - this is the moment when the residents of Metula will be able to return to their homes |url=https://www.israelhayom.co.il/news/defense/article/16556395 |accessdate=5 October 2024 |website=Israel Hayom}} Eight Egoz fighters were killed during the fighting, including the team commander Capt. Harel Ettinger. The Redwan Force personnel entrenched themselves in a mosque which was then attacked by a UAV. In this engagement 6 Egoz Unit personnel were killed and 30 were wounded including 7 seriously, moreover IDF claimed to have killed 30 Hezbollah militants during the engagement.

Later on the same day, an ambush by Hezbollah killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded 18.{{Cite web |last=McCready |first=Alastair |title=Updates: Hezbollah fights Israeli troops in Lebanon as 5 killed in Beirut |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/10/1/israels-war-on-gaza-israel-says-it-will-respond-to-iran-missile-attacks?update=3216745 |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}} According to Al Jazeera English analysts, the attack was a victory for Hezbollah.{{Cite web |last=McCready |first=Alastair |title=Updates: Hezbollah fights Israeli troops in Lebanon as 5 killed in Beirut |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/10/1/israels-war-on-gaza-israel-says-it-will-respond-to-iran-missile-attacks?update=3216614 |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}} The Lebanese army said that an Israeli force crossed the Blue Line in Odaisseh and claimed they retreated after an incursion of about 400 meters.{{Cite web |last1=McCready |first1=Alastair |last2=Siddiqui |first2=Usaid |date=2 October 2024 |title=Israeli forces cross 'Blue Line': Lebanon army |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/10/1/israels-war-on-gaza-israel-says-it-will-respond-to-iran-missile-attacks |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004230756/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/10/1/israels-war-on-gaza-israel-says-it-will-respond-to-iran-missile-attacks |archive-date=4 October 2024 |access-date=2 October 2024 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |quote="An Israeli enemy force breached the Blue Line approximately 400 metres into Lebanese territory in the areas of Khirbet Yaroun and Odaisseh, then withdrew after a short period," the army said on X.}}

On 3 October, Hezbollah said that it targeted Israeli soldiers in al-Thaghra on the outskirts of Odaisseh.{{Cite web |date=3 October 2024 |title=More from Hezbollah |url=https://aje.io/l9o832?update=3219810 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004231138/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/10/3/live-beirut-bombed-as-hezbollah-battles-israeli-army-in-south-lebanon?update=3219810 |archive-date=4 October 2024 |access-date=4 October 2024 |website=Al Jazeera}}

Hezbollah-affiliated sources stated that the IDF withdrew from Odaisseh and Kfar Kila.{{Cite web |title=Iran Update, October 9, 2024 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-october-9-2024 |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Institute for the Study of War |language=en}}

A number of buildings in Odaisseh were demolished by the Israeli military, among them a cultural centre and the family home of Lubnan Baalbaki, the conductor of Lebanon’s philharmonic orchestra. The centre was full of his father's, the artist Abdel-Hamid Baalbaki ([https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/عبد_الحميد_بعلبكي ar]), collection of fine art and pottery, in addition to 2,000 manuscripts and books.[https://www.ft.com/content/92b4a83a-c5cf-4354-93e7-645f92e74fbb The demolitions clearing Israel’s ‘first belt’ in Lebanon], Financial Times

By 3 November, around 20 percent of buildings in Odaisseh were damaged.{{Cite news |date=3 November 2024 |title=Israeli army destroyed around 12 percent of Lebanese border villages |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-army-destroyed-around-12-lebanese-border-villages |work=The New Arab}}

Israeli forces withdrew from Odaisseh on 18 February 2025 following the expiration of the extended deadline of the Israel–Lebanon ceasefire agreement that came into effect on 27 November 2024. Lebanese residents returned to their homes, finding them largely destroyed by Israeli forces.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-18 |title=Returning Lebanese say find 'total destruction' after Israel pullout |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250218-returning-lebanese-say-find-total-destruction-after-israel-pullout |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=France 24 |language=en}}

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Category:October 2024 in Lebanon

Category:Battles of the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon

Category:Battles involving Israel

Category:Battles involving Hezbollah

Category:Marjayoun District