The Israeli military said Saturday evening that a Lebanese soldier was killed when an explosive device planted by Hezbollah detonated in southern Lebanon. The IDF added that its forces were not present in the area at the time, rejecting any implication of Israeli involvement.
The IDF issued a statement Saturday evening, quoted by journalist Nitzan Shapira, explicitly denying any involvement in the death of a Lebanese soldier in southern Lebanon, stating that Israeli forces were not present in the area. The clarification comes after earlier reports that a Lebanese Army vehicle hit an explosive device in the security zone.
The incident unfolded early Saturday morning, when two bombs struck al-Mansouri in southern Lebanon. A Lebanese security source later reported that a soldier was killed by a booby-trapped generator, and authorities denied any Israeli strike. At 22:17 Jerusalem, Israeli media outlet N12 reported that a Lebanese soldier was killed by a Hezbollah mine, and the IDF said the device was not Israeli. The military then confirmed that Hezbollah planted the device and that the vehicle entered the security zone without prior coordination. The latest statement adds that no Israeli forces were in the area at all recently.
The Zioneer has previously reported on Hezbollah's use of improvised explosive devices against Israeli forces, including incidents that killed an IDF reservist and wounded seven troops (June 18), and a clash with a Hezbollah operative (June 28). These incidents underscore the continued volatility along the border despite the ceasefire framework.
The identity of the Lebanese soldier has not been publicly released. The exact circumstances leading to the vehicle's entry into the security zone remain unclear.
7 developments
- ConfirmedIDF soldier killed by Hezbollah IED in southern Lebanon, deputy division commander wounded
- ConfirmedIDF eliminates Hezbollah operative near troops in Al-Manzala area
- DevelopingLebanese Army says one soldier killed in IDF strike in southern Lebanon
- DevelopingIDF: Hezbollah mortars hit UNIFIL post, kill UN soldier
Source and signal
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