The Israeli military announced Thursday that two soldiers were killed in combat in southern Lebanon, marking the first Israeli deaths since a fragile truce with Hezbollah went into effect in June. Four other soldiers sustained serious injuries in the incident.
Israeli forces launched strikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday in response to what the military described as Hezbollah's violation of the ceasefire. The military also issued an evacuation warning for residents of the village of Mansouri, the first such alert in Lebanon in several weeks. Hezbollah has not yet issued a statement regarding the recent escalation.
The development occurred as Lebanese and Israeli negotiators were meeting in Rome to discuss the implementation of a June 26 agreement. This deal stipulates that Israeli forces would withdraw from occupied areas in southern Lebanon and allow the Lebanese army to assume control, in exchange for Hezbollah's disarmament.
The talks in Rome concluded early Wednesday due to the escalating situation on the ground. It remains unclear if the negotiations will resume.
Lebanon's Health Ministry reported that one person was killed and 12 others wounded in an Israeli strike in the town of Tebnine on Wednesday. Overnight strikes also reportedly wounded multiple individuals in the village of Burj al-Shemali, though casualty figures were not immediately clear. Artillery shelling was also reported in the areas of Mansouri and Majdal Zoun.
The latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2, following rocket fire from Hezbollah across the border two days after the U.S. and Israel initiated attacks on Iran. Since then, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have resulted in over 4,000 fatalities, including hundreds of civilians. On the Israeli side, approximately 40 soldiers and three civilians, including a military contractor, have been killed.
While the truce brokered in June had largely held, Israeli forces have continued to occupy parts of southern Lebanon and conduct periodic airstrikes and shelling. Efforts to implement the agreement have included establishing "pilot zones" for Israeli withdrawal and Lebanese army control. An initial pilot zone was established last month in an area that was not under Israeli occupation but had previously been targeted by Israeli fire. The Lebanese army entered the town of Zawtar al-Gharbieh as civilians returned, many finding their homes destroyed.
Diplomatic discussions, including prior suggestions from U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, indicated a cautious approach to implementing new pilot zones to avoid endangering civilians.