Gallant says Hezbollah paying 'heavy price' for its attacks

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Saturday that Hezbollah "has decided to participate in the fighting" that is raging between Israel and the Gaza-based Hamas movement.

“Hezbollah has decided to participate in the fighting, and we are exacting a heavy price for this,” said Gallant during a visit to the border with Lebanon, referring to the deadly cross-border exchanges with the Iran-backed group that have been ongoing since the day that followed Hamas' Oct. 7 massive attack on Israel.

At least 22 people have been killed in south Lebanon in the hostilities. Most of them have been Hezbollah and Palestinian combatants, but at least four civilians, including a Reuters journalist, have also been killed. At least three Israeli troops and a civilian have been killed in Israel.

Hezbollah last fought a major conflict with Israel in 2006.

That war left more than 1,200 dead in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 in Israel, mostly soldiers.