Israeli aircraft Tuesday night dropped a large number of paratroopers near eastern Lebanese town of Baalbek, a stronghold of Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, Lebanese security officials said.

They said that many Israeli aircraft carrying paratroopers to the region could be obviously seen above Baalbek because of the strong light of the parachute flares.

Israeli army started the airborne operation on Tuesday night following a series of airstrikes in the region, they added.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah's television channel al-Manar confirmed that the Israeli paratroops occurred above Baalbek, but said that they were frustrated amid heavy Hezbollah fire.

Israeli paratroopers with air force and tank brigade backup have been operating in southern Lebanon since pre-dawn Tuesday after Israeli security cabinet decided to widen ground offensives in Lebanon, according to Israeli army.

Three Israeli paratroopers were confirmed dead in their ground action in southern Lebanese village of Aita al-Shaab on Tuesday.

Israeli army forces were also deployed in a number of areas within Lebanon on Tuesday, deep in the central and western fronts.

Source: Xinhua