Israeli soldiers killed in southern Lebanon explosion
The Israeli military reported on Thursday that two of its soldiers died in an explosion in southern Lebanon, marking the first Israeli fatalities since a fragile truce was established between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in June, reports BritPanorama.
Four other soldiers sustained serious injuries, according to military sources. Israeli media had initially reported the deaths a day earlier. An official, who requested anonymity, indicated that “an explosion was detonated” when soldiers entered a site in the village of Majdal Zoun; the specifics of the explosive device are under investigation.
In retaliation for what it described as a violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah, the Israeli military conducted airstrikes on southern Lebanon the previous day, issuing a warning for residents of the village of Mansouri to evacuate — the first such alert from Israel in several weeks.
There has been no immediate response from Hezbollah. The escalation coincides with negotiations in Rome between Lebanese and Israeli representatives regarding the enactment of a deal from June 26, which calls for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories in southern Lebanon, permitting the Lebanese army to assume control in return for Hezbollah’s disarmament.
Discussions were interrupted by the recent escalation and were set to resume on Thursday. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported one fatality and twelve injuries due to an Israeli strike in the town of Tebnine on Wednesday. The state-run National News Agency also mentioned additional casualties from overnight strikes in the village of Burj al-Shemali, though casualty figures remained unclear. Artillery shelling targeted the regions of Mansouri and Majdal Zoun as well.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah reignited on March 2, following Hezbollah’s rocket fire into Israel just days after U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran commenced. Since that time, over 4,000 individuals have reportedly lost their lives from Israeli attacks in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians, while about 40 soldiers and three civilians have been killed on the Israeli side.
Despite a fragile ceasefire being largely maintained since June 20, Israeli forces continue to occupy significant areas in southern Lebanon and conduct periodic airstrikes and artillery shelling. The ongoing negotiations in Rome have emphasized the establishment of “pilot zones” where Israeli forces would withdraw and Lebanese military control would be reinstated. The process began last month, initiating with a pilot zone that had previously endured Israeli fire but was not under direct occupation.
The Lebanese army has reentered the town of Zawtar al-Gharbieh, allowing some civilians to return. However, many found their homes destroyed and opted to leave once more. A diplomat familiar with the negotiations, remaining unnamed, previously stated that Lebanon expressed a desire for involvement in the towns of Khiam or Bint Jbeil, both notably affected during the latest conflict and still occupied by Israeli forces.
Yet, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa cautioned prior to the three-day talks that no new pilot zones would be enacted immediately, warning that “moving too quickly risks jeopardizing the very civilians this process is meant to protect.”
