The Lebanese army said an Israeli airstrike near Nabatieh initially killed one soldier and wounded four; it later reported one of the wounded died, bringing the military toll to two dead and three injured. Israel says the incident is under review and that its operations target Hezbollah, not the Lebanese Armed Forces. The strike comes amid intensified Israeli attacks across Lebanon that authorities say have killed more than 880 people and displaced over 1 million residents.
Israeli Airstrike Near Nabatieh Kills Two Lebanese Soldiers, Wounds Three, Army Says
Smoke rises after Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, amid escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, as seen from Marjayoun, Lebanon, March 17, 2026. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher
BEIRUT, March 17 — The Lebanese army said on Tuesday that an Israeli airstrike near the southern city of Nabatieh struck a group of its servicemen, initially reporting one soldier killed and four wounded. The army later updated its tally, saying that one of the wounded had died of his injuries, bringing the military toll among soldiers to two fatalities and three injured.
The army said the soldiers were struck while travelling by car and on a motorcycle. They were taken to hospital and the army posted the initial update on X, followed by a subsequent statement confirming the additional death.
Israel's military said it was aware of reports that Lebanese soldiers were wounded in a strike in southern Lebanon and that the incident was under review. The Israeli military emphasised that its operations are directed at Hezbollah and not at the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Wider Context
The strike comes amid an intensification of Israeli operations across Lebanon. Lebanese authorities say those attacks have killed more than 880 people and displaced over 1 million residents. The Lebanese army has reported additional casualties in recent days; earlier this month the army said three soldiers were among those killed in Israeli strikes.
Since a November 2024 ceasefire with Hezbollah, Israel has maintained five positions in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces sent additional units into the area after Hezbollah fired a salvo of rockets on March 2 — an escalation that has widened regional tensions between Israel and Iran-backed groups.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has warned that Lebanon could face territorial losses unless Hezbollah is disarmed. Local and international authorities continue to review incidents as civilian and military casualties mount.
Reporting by Tala Ramadan; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Pooja Desai.
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