Ansariya ambush

Ansariya ambush
Part of the South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)
Date4–5 September 1997
Location
Result Hezbollah victory
Belligerents
Israel Israel Defence Forces Hezbollah
Supported by:
Amal Movement
Commanders and leaders
Israel Lt. Col. Yosef Korakin  Com. Abu Shamran
Ahmed Wehbe
Strength
16 commandos from Naval Special Operations unit, Shayetet 13 20 fighters from local Hezbollah militia and back-up units from Amal militia and Lebanese army
Casualties and losses
12 IDF soldiers killed 2 fighters lightly wounded[1]
A Lebanese woman and a young girl killed[2]

The Ansariya ambush took place during the conflict between the Israel Defense Forces occupying South Lebanon and the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, the armed wing of the Hezbollah movement. A 16-man force from the Israeli Navy’s special operation unit, Shayetet 13, on a mission in South Lebanon in 1997, stumbled into a deadly ambush by Hezbollah. Twelve Israeli soldiers were killed, which was the worst Israeli single-day casualty toll in Lebanon since 1985.

  1. ^ Blanford 2011, p. 190
  2. ^ Serge Schmemann (6 September 1997). "ISRAELIS' EDGINESS SHARPENED BY LOSS OF 12 IN LEBANON". New York Times. Retrieved 10 May 2020.