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IDF launches investigation after lethal attack on Lebanese soldiers
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has opened an inquiry following a Saturday morning airstrike that killed three Lebanese soldiers in southern Lebanon. The incident has escalated tensions in a region already gripped by months of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Circumstances of the strike
The Lebanese Army reported that two officers and a soldier died when their vehicle was hit in what it called an "aggressive and barbaric raid." The attack occurred near Kfar Tebnit, approximately six kilometers north of the Litani River and close to Nabatieh, an area that has seen heavy fighting and widespread displacement.
The IDF stated the car was moving "suspiciously toward forces" in an "active and evacuated combat zone" where Hezbollah is believed to operate. Israeli military sources added that gunfire had been reported in the vicinity prior to the strike. They emphasized that coordination with the IDF is required for troop movements in the area.
IDF and Lebanese Army clash over responsibility
In a statement, the IDF reiterated its focus on Hezbollah, not the Lebanese military, calling the armed group a "terrorist organization." An initial investigation confirmed the presence of three soldiers in the targeted vehicle.
The Lebanese Army condemned the attack as "brutal, deliberate, and repeated aggression," sharing images of the charred wreckage on a road outside the village.
Broader conflict and diplomatic efforts
The strike comes amid an ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that began in March after the group launched rocket and drone attacks from southern Lebanon. While Israel is not at war with the Lebanese government, which opposes Hezbollah, the fighting has devastated the region.
Recent attempts to revive a U.S.-backed ceasefire-excluding Hezbollah-collapsed after the group's leader, Naim Qassem, dismissed negotiations as "futile." The proposed agreement included provisions for security zones in southern Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah operations, contingent on Israel refraining from attacking the group's positions in Beirut.
Regional and international stakes
Lebanon's government, while opposed to Hezbollah, has insisted on a ceasefire to enable its forces to disarm the group. Israel, however, has questioned Beirut's capacity to do so. The conflict has drawn in broader regional powers, with U.S. President Donald Trump seeking to de-escalate tensions to facilitate a deal with Iran, which has tied any resolution of its conflict with the U.S. and Israel to the cessation of hostilities against Hezbollah.
The war escalated on March 2 after Hezbollah retaliated for an Israeli strike that killed Iran's supreme leader, prompting Israel to launch airstrikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon. A ceasefire in April failed to halt the violence, and Israeli operations have since expanded, including recent strikes in eastern Lebanon following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement of an intensified campaign on May 26.
