The Israeli army suffered a "mass casualty event" at the hands of Hezbollah on Wednesday as they attempted to infiltrate Lebanese territory, according to Arab media.
Israeli soldiers were ambushed by Hezbollah forces at dawn on Wednesday with reports of at least two troops killed and 18 wounded near the town of Adaisseh, southern Lebanon.
Three military helicopters were reportedly seen transporting wounded soldiers to the Rambam Hospital near Haifa, The New Arab's Arabic language site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported.
Around 20 ambulances were waiting in the north of Israel to receive soldiers who were being evacuated from the Lebanese border area by helicopter, according to Al Jazeera.
Israel has placed a strict gag order on local media reporting on its operations on the border with Lebanon and there has been no word from the military about casualties.
Hezbollah said it clashed with Israeli soldiers on the Lebanon border during an invasion attempt, the group said in statements.
Its fighters confronted "an Israeli enemy infantry force that tried to infiltrate into the village of Adaysseh... and clashed with them... and forced them to withdraw", a statement said.
It also reported clashes with Israeli forces in the town of Maroun El Ras.
The pan-Arab Al-Mayadeen TV reported that Israeli forces in the area were facing another "difficult" situation with "mass casualties" resulting from clashes with Hezbollah fighters.
Hezbollah said its fighters targeted "a large infantry force" in Misgav Am, across the border, with rockets and artillery, as well as a build-up of troops at three other locations, one with Burkan rockets.
The Israeli military said there were "intense clashes" at the border between Israel and Hezbollah forces.
Early on Wednesday, the Israeli army announced that its 36th Division had joined its invasion of Lebanon.
"At this hour, fighters from the 36th Division, including fighters from the Golani Brigade, the 188th Armored Brigade, the Etzioni Brigade (6), and additional forces are joining the focused and specific ground operation in southern Lebanon that began the day before yesterday (Monday) against targets and infrastructure... of Hezbollah. The ground forces are receiving support and cover from airstrikes and artillery shelling from the 282nd Artillery Brigade," it said in a statement.
Israeli artillery shelled the hills surrounding Adaise, Kfar Kila, Deir Mimas, Aaziye, Tel Nahas, Bourj el-Moulouk, and Khiam with dozens of projectiles.
Since last week, Israel has heavily bombed Lebanon, particularly the south, saying it was targeting Hezbollah sites, although hundreds, possibly thousands, of civilians have been killed.
Fresh Israeli strikes reported in Beirut
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued their ariel attacks on Lebanon, with local media reporting dozens of strikes targeting Beirut's southern suburb Dahiyeh overnight.
The fresh strikes targeted the Choueifat area south of Beirut, state news agency NNA reported.
"At least five Israeli strikes targeted Beirut's southern suburbs," a Lebanese security source said, adding that evacuation orders were sent to residents by Israel in the early hours of Wednesday.
Residents reported hearing multiple explosions and seeing smoke rising in one area while a fire appeared to burn.
Israel has repeatedly bombarded Beirut's southern suburbs since last week, a densely-populated area where Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah sites.
A massive raid in the area on Friday killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.