IDF confirms explosive that wounded five Lebanese soldiers was from Hezbollah, not Israeli strike

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed Sunday that an explosive device that wounded five Lebanese soldiers in southern Lebanon was deployed by Hezbollah, refuting earlier claims that Israel was responsible. The military stated the explosive was run over by the Lebanese soldiers.

According to the IDF, the incident took place in the Kfara area of Lebanon, a location where no Israeli soldiers were present. This clarification came after the Lebanese Armed Forces initially reported on Sunday evening that five of its soldiers sustained light injuries from a "hostile Israeli strike" in the Kafr Kila area.

Lebanon's military later walked back its initial assessment. The revised statement described the incident as resulting from a "suspicious object," diverging from the original claim of an Israeli strike. The initial report had stated the explosion occurred while the soldiers were escorting residents.