Three Lebanese soldiers were wounded while clearing unexploded ordnance in Zawtar al-Gharbiyah after reports that Israeli troops entered the village and erected an earthen barrier near the square. The village is a pilot zone under a US-backed June 26 framework that aims for a phased Israeli withdrawal in exchange for Hezbollah's disarmament. Local and regional reporting say attacks and ground incursions have intensified along the frontier, complicating ongoing US-mediated talks in Rome. Israel also reported one soldier was moderately wounded in a separate incident.
Three Lebanese Soldiers Wounded Clearing Ordnance After Reports Israeli Troops Built Earth Barrier Near Zawtar al-Gharbiyah
A destroyed home in the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah in south Lebanon, [File: Mohammed Zaatari/AP]
Three Lebanese soldiers were injured while attempting to defuse unexploded ordnance in the southern village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, the Lebanese army said, after local officials reported Israeli troops had entered the area overnight and erected an earth barrier near the village square.
Local reports and military responses
Mayor Abed Ezzeddine told AFP residents were surprised to find the barrier roughly 100 metres from the square. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that an "Israeli occupation army force advanced into the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah shortly after midnight … and erected a new earthen barrier near the town square." An AFP correspondent confirmed seeing a barrier blocking a road at the village's eastern entrance.
"An Israeli occupation army force advanced into the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah shortly after midnight … and erected a new earthen barrier near the town square,"
The Lebanese military called the movement a violation of the US-backed framework agreement signed with Israel on June 26. The Israeli military told AFP it was "not aware of such an event in this area." The village was placed under Lebanese army control on July 21 under the agreement.
Wider security situation along the frontier
Al Jazeera correspondent Ihab al-Aqadi in Tyre said Israeli operations had intensified in recent days, coinciding with US-mediated talks between Beirut and Tel Aviv in Rome. Zawtar al-Gharbiyah is one of two pilot zones where the Lebanese army is deploying under the framework, which envisages a phased Israeli withdrawal in exchange for the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Al-Aqadi reported that teams were clearing mines and removing rubble so residents could return; Mayor Ezzeddine said about 50 families had returned since the army deployment on July 21. He also said Israeli troops had been on the village outskirts before the deployment.
Reporting described continued hostilities across the frontier: the nearby town of Mansouri was shelled by Israeli artillery and remained effectively sealed off after evacuation orders and intermittent bombardment; a bulldozer clearing roads there was reported damaged by a bomb. Additional incidents cited included bulldozing in occupied Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh toward the Ali al-Taher area of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, two drone strikes on open ground in Mayfadoun, and ground incursions in Kfar Shouba, Hasbaya district, and Haddatha in Bint Jbeil district.
Casualties and diplomatic context
Separately, Israel reported one of its soldiers was moderately wounded in southern Lebanon in what the military called an "operational incident"; Israeli outlets identified him as a combat engineer from the 607th Engineering Battalion who was treated in hospital. Lebanon and Israel concluded a seventh round of direct, US-mediated talks in Rome on Thursday, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun saying Beirut had made "positive progress" on border and prisoner issues.
Outlook
The situation remains fragile: Lebanese authorities insist on upholding the ceasefire framework while pressing Israel to halt incursions and destruction near the border, and both sides are preparing for further negotiations in the coming weeks.
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