⚔Battle of Maroun al-Ras: the first ground engagement

From 20 to 23 July 2006 Israeli forces tried to advance on the Maroun al-Ras axis near Avivim; the resistance fighters confronted them, destroying two Merkava tanks and downing a helicopter on the first day, then on 21 July inflicting seven dead, twenty wounded and three tanks, and three armoured vehicles on 22 July, before the resistance announced its withdrawal from the town on 23 July. The first test of the ground-invasion plan, and with it the cluster and phosphorus bombs on the villages began.