Israeli gunfire kills two in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

The Israeli military stated that its troops engaged individuals identified as armed combatants who posed an immediate threat near the Ali al-Taher ridge. This location sits within a designated security zone where Israeli forces have maintained a presence since their initial incursion against Hezbollah. Conversely, Lebanon’s state news agency, NNA, reported that the victims were part of a group working with a bulldozer to clear a road in the al-Deir neighborhood.

This flare-up complicates the recently brokered memorandum between the United States and Iran, which aims to secure a permanent cessation of hostilities. Ali Bahreini, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, warned that such violations jeopardize broader peace negotiations. He urged Washington to exercise its influence over Israel to ensure compliance with the de-confliction protocols established during Swiss-hosted talks. Despite the diplomatic pressure, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains that Israeli troops retain full operational freedom to neutralize threats and will remain in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary.