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Monday, March 9, 2026
IDF says it’s ‘unaware’ of Hezbollah claims of overnight clashes, helicopter downing
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The IDF says it is unaware of claims made by Hezbollah that its operatives clashed with Israeli troops and shot down a helicopter in eastern Lebanon overnight.
Lebanon’s state news agency reported that “fierce clashes” took place after the landing of Israeli helicopters near Nabi Chit, the same area where Israeli troops conducted a recent failed mission to recover the remains of airman Ron Arad, who has been missing since the 1980s.
Hezbollah claimed in statements that it had engaged the Israeli forces, and two sources in the terror group claimed to AFP that a helicopter was downed.
Asked for a comment on the reported incidents, the military says it is “unaware” of any of the claims.
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