By Sean Seddon • 1 hour ago
Lebanon says three soldiers killed in Israeli attack on car
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said it was investigating a strike on a vehicle carrying Lebanese soldiers in southern Lebanon that killed two officers and a soldier, according to the Lebanese Army. It called the incident an "aggressive and barbaric raid". The IDF described the vehicle as "moving suspiciously towards forces" and said gunfire had been reported in the area.
Hezbollah, an Iran‑backed militia, has been in conflict with Israel since March, when it launched rockets into Israel. Israel is conducting operations in southern Lebanon, targeting what it says are Hezbollah positions, while the Lebanese government opposes the group and seeks a ceasefire.
The strike took place near the village of Kfar Tebnit, about four miles north of the Litani River close to Nabatieh, an area that has seen heavy fighting and displacement recently. Israeli forces have issued evacuation orders for the region as the campaign continues.
The IDF insists the vehicle was in an active combat zone where it believes Hezbollah operates. It reiterated that its forces are fighting the Hezbollah movement and not the Lebanese Army.
The Lebanese Army reacted angrily, accusing Israel of "brutal, deliberate and repeated aggression". Images of the charred wreckage were circulated, showing the destroyed vehicle on a road outside the village.
Hezbollah’s leadership has rejected a US‑backed ceasefire agreement that was agreed in April between Israel and Lebanon, stating negotiations were futile. The deal would have prevented Israeli attacks on Beirut if Hezbollah did not attack Israel, and established zones where Hezbollah could not operate.
Lebanon remains opposed to Hezbollah but wants to end the fighting on its soil. US President Donald Trump has pushed for a resolution to the conflict, but the issue of Hezbollah continues to complicate talks about Israel–Iran relations.
In March, following an Israeli strike that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel, sparking a new stage in the long‑standing conflict. An initial ceasefire was reached on 16 April but failed to stop hostilities.
