- Two Israeli soldiers were killed and four others wounded by an explosion in a building they entered during a security sweep, according to Israel's Army Radio on Thursday.
- The Israeli military initially described the incident as "a blatant ceasefire violation" by Hezbollah, for which it launched retaliatory strikes in southern Lebanon.
- The Lebanese health ministry reported one person killed and 12 wounded in an Israeli strike on Tibnin, after an evacuation warning.
- On Thursday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz mourned the soldiers without mentioning Hezbollah or a ceasefire violation, suggesting Israel was not looking to escalate attacks.
- The Rome talks, which began on Tuesday and are expected to continue through Thursday, follow a U.S.-brokered security arrangement agreed in June to ease border hostilities.
- Despite the ceasefire, Israel declared a buffer zone in southern Lebanon where its troops continue to operate to eliminate the threat of Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group.
- Army Radio, citing a security source, said it was unclear whether the explosive device had been planted before or after the ceasefire.
Israel's military reported two soldiers were killed and four others wounded by an explosion in a building during a security sweep in southern Lebanon. The incident, described as a "blatant ceasefire violation" by Hezbollah, prompted Israel to retaliate with strikes that killed at least one person in the town of Tibnin.
The explosion's timing remains unclear, with reports indicating uncertainty about when the device was planted. Despite the violence, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz refrained from escalating rhetoric, omitting mention of Hezbollah in his statement mourning the soldiers' deaths.47
The retaliatory strikes occurred amid ongoing talks in Rome, which began on Tuesday and are set to continue through Thursday. These discussions follow a U.S.-brokered security arrangement established in June, aimed at reducing tensions along the border. The Lebanese health ministry reported that the Israeli strikes resulted in one death and 12 injuries in Tibnin, marking the first evacuation warning issued by Israel for Lebanon in over a month.
As the situation develops, both nations remain engaged in dialogue, seeking to navigate the complexities of their border security and ongoing hostilities.
“The blast killed two soldiers and wounded four others during a security sweep, with Army Radio citing a security source that it is unclear if the device was planted before or after the ceasefire. Israel's defence minister mourned the soldiers without mentioning Hezbollah, suggesting no escalation.”
