Two Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon explosion countrys first deaths since June Hezbollah truce
BEIRUT (AP) — Two Israeli soldiers were killed in an explosion in southern Lebanon, Israel’s military said Thursday, the first Israeli deaths since a shaky truce between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah began nearly two months ago.Four other soldiers were seriously wounded, the military said.An Israeli military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in accordance with the army’s policy, said that “an explosion was detonated” when the soldiers entered a site in the village of Majdal Zoun and that the nature of the explosive was under review.Israeli media reported the two deaths a day earlier.The Israeli army launched strikes Wednesday in southern Lebanon in response to what it described as Hezbollah’s violation of the cease-fire and called on residents of the village of Mansouri to flee — the first such warning Israel has issued in Lebanon for weeks.Lebanon’s Health Ministry said one person was killed and 12 wounded in an Israeli strike in the town of Tebnine Wednesday and another eight wounded in overnight strikes on the village of Burj al-Shemali.
Artillery shelling also targeted the areas of Mansouri and Majdal Zoun, the state-run National News Agency said.There was no statement from the Iran-backed Hezbollah.The latest Israel-Hezbollah war erupted on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets across the border two days after the US and Israel launched their attacks on Iran. More than 4,000 people have been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon since then, including hundreds of civilians.About 40 soldiers and three civilians — including a military contractor — have been killed on the Israeli side.A precarious truce between Israel and Hezbollah has largely held since June 20, but Israeli forces have continued to occupy swaths of southern Lebanon and to carry out periodic airstrikes and shelling.
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.Please provide a valid email.
...