Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Southern Lebanon as Strikes Kill One Lebanese
Two Israeli soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon on Wednesday when an explosive device detonated, prompting Israeli retaliatory strikes that killed at least one Lebanese civilian as US-brokered talks continued in Rome.
Israeli Soldiers Killed in Lebanon
The Israeli military said the deaths of Major Harel Birenstock, 34, and Sergeant Major Tamir Vaknin, 33, were the first Israeli fatalities in southern Lebanon since June 28. [2] Israeli local media said the two soldiers were killed and four others wounded when an explosive device detonated in an area where they were operating in the south. [1] The military identified the two reservists who were killed in combat on Wednesday as Major Harel Birenstock, 34, and Sergeant Major Tamir Vaknin, 33, of the 2855th Battalion, 55th Brigade. [2] The deaths were the first Israeli fatalities reported in southern Lebanon since June 28. [2] Two Israeli soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military said on Thursday. [1]
Retaliatory Strikes Kill Lebanese Civilian
Israeli strikes hit the town of Tibnin, killing one person and wounding 12 according to the Lebanese health ministry. [1] The Lebanese health ministry said an Israeli strike on the southern town of Tibnin killed one person and wounded 12 others. [1] A separate strike on Mansouri killed one and wounded 11 per Lebanese state media. [2] Lebanese state media said one person died and 11 were wounded in a separate strike. [2] Israeli retaliatory attacks killed at least one person, according to the Lebanese health ministry. [1] The Israeli strikes, accompanied by the first evacuation warning in weeks, came as the United States led diplomacy between Israel and Lebanon in Rome. [2] In its first such warning since June, the Israeli military on Wednesday told the residents of Mansouri that they must evacuate their homes immediately and move north. [2]
Ceasefire Violation Cited by Israel
The violence followed what Israel described as a Hezbollah violation of the June ceasefire, with Israel maintaining a security zone in southern Lebanon. [1] On Wednesday, the Israeli military began strikes in southern Lebanon in response to what it said was a “Hezbollah violation” of the ceasefire. [1] “In response to a blatant violation of the ceasefire by the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, the IDF has begun conducting precise strikes in southern Lebanon,” the military said in a statement. [2] Israel, however, said it would maintain a security zone in southern Lebanon to eliminate the threat of the Iran-backed group, Hezbollah. [1] The “security zone” designates a strip of territory where Israeli forces continue to operate that runs around 10 kilometres deep inside southern Lebanon along its border with Israel. [2]
Talks in Rome Interrupted
The flare-up occurred during the seventh round of US-led talks in Rome aimed at expanding pilot zones, resolving border issues and achieving a comprehensive peace and security agreement that includes Hezbollah disarmament and Lebanese army deployment. [2] This week’s negotiations are the seventh round since Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March with rocket fire at Israel in support of its backer Iran. [2] In previous US-sponsored talks in June, Israel and Lebanon agreed to a framework deal that involves the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon’s south and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region, starting in test areas known as “pilot zones”. [2] In Rome, Israel requested that the day’s talks with Lebanon end three hours early, a source in the negotiations told AFP, saying the head of the Israeli delegation, US ambassador Yechiel Leiter, had blamed alleged “misleading leaks” by the Lebanese side. [2] But the talks were expected to resume on Thursday for a third and final day. [2] A US State Department official had told AFP that this week’s discussions would “include expanding the pilot zone process, resolving all outstanding border issues, and working on a comprehensive peace and security agreement”. [2]
Displacement and Broader Toll
More than 800,000 displaced people had begun returning home after the lull in violence, though over 360,000 remained displaced. [2] The UN’s humanitarian agency had said just the night before that more than 800,000 people displaced by earlier fighting in Lebanon had begun heading back home following the recent lull in violence, though more than 360,000 remained displaced. [2] Since the March outbreak of hostilities, Israel has lost 38 soldiers in Lebanon. [2] Since the war between Israel and Hezbollah erupted in early March, Israel’s military has lost 38 soldiers and one civilian contractor. [2] Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said on Tuesday that the direct negotiations would bring “nothing but shame, humiliation” and successive concessions for Lebanon. [2] Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani spoke with his counterpart from Iran, Hezbollah’s main patron, and called on Tehran to halt the group’s operations. [2]
What to watch next: The talks are expected to resume on Thursday for a third and final day while the Israeli military continues precise strikes in southern Lebanon in response to the ceasefire violation.
