Israel says it killed several Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon; soldier injured

The Israeli military announced on Saturday that its forces killed several Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon overnight. The military stated that soldiers engaged and eliminated the fighters after identifying them within what Israel designates as a "security zone" in Lebanese territory.

An Israeli soldier sustained moderate injuries during the operation and was evacuated to a hospital for treatment. The military affirmed its commitment to removing threats to its soldiers and preventing Hezbollah from harming Israeli civilians. Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group, has not yet commented on the reported incident.

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Following the identification, the soldiers struck the terrorists and eliminated them in order to remove the threat.

This exchange of fire occurs against the backdrop of a US-sponsored framework agreement signed in late June, intended to end hostilities. The deal proposes that the Lebanese army disarm Hezbollah while Israel withdraws from specific zones where Lebanese forces would then deploy. However, Hezbollah has repeatedly rejected the agreement and refuses to disarm, and no timeline for a full Israeli withdrawal has been established.

While violence has decreased since preliminary agreements were reached in June, intermittent Israeli strikes and artillery shelling on southern Lebanon continue. Lebanon's army has condemned these ongoing Israeli military activities, stating they hinder its full deployment under the framework deal. Since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began in March, the Israeli military has reported 38 soldiers and one civilian contractor killed.

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Israeli forces "will continue to operate to remove any threat to its soldiers and will not allow the Hezbollah terrorist organization to harm Israeli civilians,”