Two Israeli soldiers killed, several others injured by explosion in southern Lebanon

At least two invading Israeli soldiers have been killed and seven others wounded in a bomb explosion in southern Lebanon, as Israel stepped up its attacks across the area, killing one Lebanese resident and injuring 12 others.

Israeli media reported on Wednesday that the soldiers, members of the 55th Brigade, were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated inside a booby-trapped building in Majdalzoun, southern Lebanon.

Earlier reports said several Israeli soldiers had been seriously wounded in a major “security incident” in southern Lebanon and were being evacuated to hospitals in the occupied territories.

An Israeli military helicopter was seen landing at Rambam Hospital in Haifa, carrying wounded Israeli forces.

Meanwhile, an Israeli drone struck Tibnin, setting fire to surrounding woodlands, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the Israeli attack killed one person and injured 12 others. Several people were also injured in the town by an explosion caused by unexploded Israeli ordnance.

The attacks came as Israeli forces stepped up their military activity across southern Lebanon.

Israeli warplanes struck the town of al-Mansouri and the nearby area of al-Mashaa, while Israeli artillery shelled the outskirts of Majdalzoun and Shebaa.

Israeli forces also detonated houses overnight in the border towns of Kfartebnit, al-Mansouri and Haddatha. They set fire to forests and fruit-bearing trees in Houla, with the flames spreading to homes in the occupied border town.

Israeli aircraft conducted mock raids and dropped flares over several areas, including the vicinity of Ali al-Taher hill.

Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen television network reported that an Israeli drone dropped a sound bomb on the outskirts of Kfar Shouba. The network also said Israeli forces deliberately bulldozed a water well in Wadi Saluki.

Amid the escalation, Israel issued an evacuation threat to residents of al-Mansouri, alleging that Hezbollah had violated a ceasefire agreement.

More than 800,000 displaced Lebanese return home: UN

The Israeli escalation comes as more than 800,000 Lebanese people displaced by Israel’s aggression have begun returning to their hometowns following a lull in the attacks, according to the United Nations.

The UN humanitarian agency OCHA said 821,077 people had begun returning to their areas of origin as of July 30. However, more than 360,000 people remained displaced, including around 26,000 sheltering in government facilities.

OCHA said damage to water and electricity infrastructure caused by Israeli strikes had severely disrupted access to water for more than 700,000 people in southern Lebanon, where most of those displaced by the war had been living.

The latest escalation comes as the Beirut government and Israel have begun a new round of US-sponsored talks in Rome, ostensibly aimed at ending the fighting. The so-called negotiations are scheduled to continue through Thursday.

Lebanon’s direct talks with Israel have yielded nothing but shame, humiliation: Hezbollah leader

The leader of the Hezbollah resistance movement has roundly rejected Lebanon’s direct negotiations with Israel, stressing that the talks have yield nothing but shame and humiliation.

On June 26, Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement, mediated by the United States, which outlines a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from all occupied territories in Lebanon.

The agreement sets no timeline for the withdrawal, instead making its completion contingent on the Lebanese army assuming full security responsibility in the evacuated areas and on the disarmament of resistance groups, specifically Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has rejected the agreement, saying the framework deal legalizes Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s Amal Movement also dismissed the agreement, saying that most of the deal’s clauses are detrimental to Lebanon’s national interests and serve the interests of the Israeli regime.

During a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House last month, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated Beirut’s demand for the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Lebanese territory, saying full implementation of the ceasefire agreement remains impossible while Israeli violations persist.

According to official Lebanese statistics, Israeli assaults in Lebanon have killed at least 4,330 people, injured 12,236 others, and displaced more than 1 million individuals since March 2.

Israel maintains its occupation of parts of southern Lebanon, some held for decades and others seized during its 2023–24 aggression.

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