Israeli special forces carried out an overnight operation in eastern Lebanon near the Syrian border, while heavy airstrikes struck nearby areas, leaving several Lebanese soldiers and civilians dead, according to statements from both the Lebanese and Israeli militaries.

The Lebanese Army said its units detected four Israeli helicopters late on the night of March 6–7 flying over the area of Khreibeh in the Baalbek region. According to the army, two helicopters deployed a hostile force on the ground while the others carried out intense and widespread airstrikes on surrounding villages.

Lebanese military units responded by implementing emergency defensive measures and firing illumination flares to expose the landing zone, the army said. By the time the flares lit the area, however, members of the landing force had already disappeared from sight.

The landing was accompanied by heavy shelling and sweeping fire targeting the area, according to the Lebanese military. The troops later moved from the landing site toward the town of Nabi Chit, where an exchange of gunfire reportedly took place between the force and local residents. The operation continued until around 3:00 a.m.

The Lebanese Army said three soldiers were killed during the operation, along with a number of civilians, as a result of the intense bombardment accompanying the raid. Authorities said an investigation is underway to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Israel’s military confirmed that special forces from the Israeli Air Force conducted the raid in eastern Lebanon as part of an attempt to locate the remains of Ron Arad, who disappeared after ejecting from his aircraft over Lebanon in 1986.

According to the Israeli military, the operation near Nabi Chit did not uncover any findings related to Arad’s remains. However, officials said the mission enabled them to rule out one of the possible locations where his remains might have been.

Arad’s family has been informed of the developments, the military added.

The Israeli army said the raid was carried out after what it described as an “operational opportunity” emerged following an evacuation order issued in Nabi Chit a day earlier, as well as intelligence gathered during ongoing fighting with Hezbollah.

The military said it would continue its efforts to locate missing Israeli servicemen. Three soldiers are currently considered missing by Israel: Arad, Guy Hever and Yehuda Katz.

Israeli officials said their forces suffered no casualties during the operation and denied that troops came under fire, contradicting claims made by Hezbollah.

According to the Israeli military, forces operated in Nabi Chit while heavy airstrikes were conducted to isolate the area. The army said that anyone who approached Israeli troops during the operation was struck.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that Israeli strikes killed 16 people and wounded 35 others.