This comes after another nineteen Zionist invaders were sent back to Israel in body bags courtesy of Hezbollah on Saturday.

The helicopter was shot down in the Maryamein valley near the village of Yater. Other helicopters scrambled to the area in a futile attempt to try to rescue the doomed crew.

"The fighters of the Islamic Resistance [the armed wing of Hezbollah] fired rockets at a helicopter carrying troops who were trying to land on the Yater hill," said a Hezbollah spokesman in Beirut. "It was struck and it fell."

Hezbollah reported a fierce gun battle as Israeli troops tried to retrieve the crew members from the downed chopper, according to a statement issued by the group.

Hezbollah said the helicopter was shot with a new missile, the “waad”, meaning promice. An Israeli television channel reported the helicopter was shot down by an anti tank missile.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said on Saturday that the five soldiers have been declared "missing in action".