“DIRECT” CLASHES
Under a November 2024 truce, only United Nations peacekeepers and the Lebanese army may bear arms south of the Litani river.
Israel was supposed to withdraw all of its forces, but has kept troops in areas it deems strategic and conducted regular air strikes, citing Hezbollah’s refusal to surrender arms.
On Tuesday, Israel’s military said it was creating a buffer zone inside Lebanon to protect Israeli residents.
Troops from three divisions, including infantry, armoured and engineering units were operating in southern Lebanon, Israel’s army said late on Wednesday.
AFP video footage showed what appeared to be two Israeli tanks amid residential buildings in Khiam, about 6km north of the border.
The UN peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, reported Israeli “movements and military activities” on the Lebanese side, adding in a statement that they violate Lebanon’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
Hezbollah said its fighters had engaged Israeli troops in “direct” clashes in Khiam, while Israel said two of its soldiers had been “moderately injured” by anti-tank fire.
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