Israeli strike kills nine including Lebanese soldiers as border truce under pressure
Published on 06/06/2026 - 16:10 GMT+2 Nine people, including three Lebanese soldiers, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Saturday, in a setback to...
Published on 06/06/2026 - 16:10 GMT+2
Nine people, including three Lebanese soldiers, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Saturday, in a setback to efforts aimed at preserving a newly announced ceasefire between Jerusalem and Beirut.
In a statement, the Lebanese army said a brigadier general, a captain and another soldier died when a military vehicle was struck on a road between Khardali and Nabatieh. The attack came just days after Lebanese and Israeli officials agreed to a new US-brokered framework intended to reduce hostilities along the border.
The Israeli military said the vehicle had been moving "suspiciously" in what it described as an "active combat zone". It said troops had previously ordered civilians to evacuate the area ahead of military operations and stressed that it "operates against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, not against the Lebanese army".
The military added that it was "reviewing the incident".
The Lebanese army condemned what it called the continuation of "deliberate and repeated brutal Israeli aggression", saying the attacks were aimed at "thwarting all efforts to reach a solution" and accusing Israel of undermining attempts to secure a lasting ceasefire.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also denounced the strike, describing it as a "flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty" and international law. He said the attack came despite Lebanon's efforts in Washington to end what he called "continued Israeli aggression that goes unchecked".
Diplomatic efforts at risk as escalation threatens ceasefire
The latest violence highlights the fragility of a truce that formally came into effect in April but has been repeatedly tested by clashes and mutual accusations of violations. Both Israel and Hezbollah have blamed each other for breaching the ceasefire while continuing military operations.
Under the latest US-backed proposal, Hezbollah would halt attacks, withdraw forces away from the Israeli border and allow the Lebanese army to deploy in designated areas where it would exercise exclusive security control.
Hezbollah has rejected the arrangement, insisting that any agreement must include a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
Tensions remained high on Saturday as Israel renewed evacuation orders for villages in southern and eastern Lebanon and carried out additional strikes across the south. Hezbollah, meanwhile, said it had targeted Israeli forces operating in the area.
In comments broadcast by CNN on Friday, Aoun also criticised Iran's role in the conflict, saying: "It's not your country, it's our country."
He accused Tehran of using Lebanon as "a bargaining chip" in negotiations with Washington, adding that “the majority of the Lebanese people are fed up with war."
Additional sources • AFP, AP
