Amid The Riots In Beirut Lebanon, Hezbollah Talks About Iran's Heart To Israel's Resistance

Impact of Israeli attacks on Beirut Lebanon/DOKmen UNICEF/Dar Al Mussawir

JAKARTA - As news began to emerge about clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, the Iranian-backed militant group toured the media around the southern part of Beirut that was destroyed.

Fighting in Lebanese territory is a major development, the first signs of anticipating Israel's ground invasion of the country's southern part.

Lebanese troops said Israeli forces forced their way through the border on Wednesday, advancing about 400 meters before withdrawing.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military has confirmed eight of its troops were killed in fighting.

In southern Beirut, Hezbollah's center of power, the group's spokesman Mohammad Afif delivered his first public statement regarding developments amid the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in recent days.

"We were involved in clashes in Adayseh in the morning and in Maroun al-Ras just minutes before the press conference," Afif said, referring to Lebanese border villages where Israel reportedly carried out an attack reported by CNN, Wednesday, October 2.

Behind it, mounds of debris decorated with Hezbollah banners and posters of the late leader Hassan Nasrallah. This is the first image the group has produced since Nasrallah's death in an Israeli airstrike last Friday the circle of light around his head marked his death.

Afif also reacted Hezbollah's first reaction to an Iranian missile attack on Israel last night, which Tehran's elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said was revenge for Nasrallah's death.

"For those who doubt Iran's post- martyrdom Ismail Haniyeh until the last few weeks, they have been hit by a large rock," Afif said.

Iran is the heart of the resistance axis. Iran will not abandon resistance or those who fight back," Afif continued.

Press access to the southern suburbs of Beirut, a densely populated environment, is rare. During a media tour, covering the eastern part of the region, CNN saw sidewalks covered in broken glass, store windows, and buildings collapsed in almost every other block.

This is the first time the CNN team, which has reported frequently from Beirut, has seen the impact of Israeli bombings for more than five days in parts of the Lebanese capital.

"We will rebuild it," said a man riding a motorcycle. "Until then, we will trampled on the honor of Israel," he added.