The Israeli military has launched an investigation after confirming that one of its strikes in southern Lebanon hit a vehicle carrying members of the Lebanese Army, resulting in the deaths of three soldiers.
According to the Lebanese Army, two officers and one soldier were killed when their vehicle was targeted on Saturday morning near the village of Kfar Tebnit in southern Lebanon. The military described the attack as a “barbaric and aggressive assault” and condemned what it called a repeated violation of Lebanese sovereignty.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged carrying out the strike but said the vehicle had been moving in a suspicious manner toward Israeli troops operating in the area. The military also reported receiving information about gunfire nearby before the incident occurred.
The attack took place north of the Litani River, near the city of Nabatieh, a region that has witnessed heavy fighting and widespread displacement since hostilities intensified between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israeli forces have conducted extensive military operations across southern Lebanon in recent months, including airstrikes and ground activities targeting Hezbollah positions. The area where the strike occurred had previously been designated by Israel as an active combat zone, with evacuation warnings issued to residents.
In a statement, the IDF said military movements within the zone require prior coordination and emphasized that its operations are directed against Hezbollah rather than the Lebanese Army. Israeli officials added that a preliminary review indicated three Lebanese soldiers were inside the vehicle at the time of the strike.
The Lebanese Army strongly criticized the incident, accusing Israel of carrying out a deliberate attack against its personnel. Images released by Lebanese authorities showed the charred remains of the vehicle on a roadway outside the village.
The incident comes amid continuing tensions over efforts to revive a ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Lebanon. Hezbollah recently rejected proposals linked to a US-backed agreement that sought to reduce hostilities and establish security measures in parts of southern Lebanon.
Under the proposed framework, Hezbollah would be restricted from operating in designated areas of southern Lebanon, while Israel would refrain from launching attacks in Beirut as long as the group avoided strikes against Israeli territory.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem dismissed the initiative, arguing that negotiations between Lebanon and Israel would not produce meaningful results.
Lebanon’s government, which has often disagreed with Hezbollah’s policies, has continued to call for a ceasefire. Officials in Beirut argue that ending the conflict is necessary to allow state institutions to strengthen security and address the presence of armed groups within the country.
Israel, however, has repeatedly questioned the Lebanese government’s ability to limit Hezbollah’s military activities.
The United States has also been involved in diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions in Lebanon as part of broader regional negotiations involving Iran.
Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensified after the group launched attacks on Israel in March, prompting a large-scale Israeli military response that included airstrikes across Lebanon and operations in the south of the country.
Although a temporary ceasefire was announced in April, clashes have continued. In recent weeks, Israeli military activity has remained focused on southern Lebanon, while operations have also expanded to other parts of the country following the announcement of an intensified campaign by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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