The Israeli military said Saturday evening that the explosive device that killed a Lebanese soldier in southern Lebanon earlier today was planted by Hezbollah, not the IDF. The Lebanese Armed Forces vehicle entered the IDF's security zone without prior coordination, the military added.
The IDF on Saturday evening attributed the death of a Lebanese soldier in southern Lebanon to a Hezbollah-planted explosive device, confirming that the device was not Israeli ordnance and that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) vehicle entered the security zone without prior coordination. This clarification came after hours of conflicting reports following an explosion in the al-Mansouri area earlier Saturday morning.
The story unfolded rapidly through Saturday. The Zioneer's initial report at 03:14 Jerusalem cited Lebanese sources saying two bombs struck al-Mansouri, with no details on casualties. Within the same hour, a Lebanese security source told The Zioneer that a soldier was killed by a planted generator device and denied an Israeli strike. The IDF then issued a statement clarifying that the device was not Israeli and was likely placed by Hezbollah, and later added that no Israeli forces had been present in the area. Israeli media outlet N12 corroborated the IDF account.
The incident is part of a broader pattern of Hezbollah using planted explosives in southern Lebanon, as The Zioneer has reported. On June 18, 2026, an IDF reservist was killed and seven troops wounded by a Hezbollah explosive device in the same region. Hezbollah mortars have also struck UNIFIL posts, as reported on June 4.
The identity of the Lebanese soldier killed has not been officially released. The Lebanese Armed Forces have not yet publicly responded to the IDF's statement. The exact type of device and the coordinates of the incident remain unconfirmed.
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
- Internal intake