Three Lebanese soldiers, including a brigadier-general, were killed in an Israeli attack on their vehicle in southern Lebanon on Saturday, prompting a furious response from the Lebanese Army.
According to reporting by the BBC, The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it struck the vehicle, saying it was “moving suspiciously towards forces” in an area where gunfire had been reported. The IDF said it has launched an investigation into the incident.
The Lebanese Army condemned the strike as “aggressive and barbaric”, accusing Israel of “brutal, deliberate and repeated aggression”. The victims were identified as Brigadier-General Samer Sabra, Captain Elie Khoury, and Private Hassan Ghazal.
The attack occurred on a road near the village of Kfar Tebnit, about four miles north of the Litani River, close to the city of Nabatieh—an area that has seen intense fighting and widespread displacement in recent months.
The IDF said the vehicle was travelling in an “active and evacuated combat zone” where it believes Hezbollah has operated. It reiterated that its forces “are operating against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, not against the Lebanese Army”.
Israel is not in direct conflict with the Lebanese government, which is involved in ceasefire talks with Israel. However, Israel has been fighting Hezbollah since March, with the Iran-backed group launching rocket and drone attacks into northern Israel from southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s leadership has rejected efforts to revive a US-backed ceasefire agreement. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem called talks between Lebanon and Israel “futile”.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the Lebanese people were “fed up” with the war and blamed Iran for the situation. Iran’s foreign minister responded by saying, “save Lebanon from your real foe, Mr. President”—an apparent reference to Israel.
According to Lebanon’s health ministry, at least 3,550 people have been killed in the country since the war began. Israel says 26 of its soldiers and four Israeli civilians have been killed on both sides of the border.
