The Israeli military confirmed on Tuesday that four of its soldiers were killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon, where clashes with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group are intensifying. Three of the fallen soldiers belonged to the same battalion, while a fourth, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, also died in the same engagement. Additionally, one soldier was critically injured and a reservist sustained moderate wounds.
Meanwhile, Israel’s air defense systems responded to missile launches originating from Iran, with sirens blaring across Jerusalem. The military announced that missiles had been detected heading toward Israeli territory and that interception efforts were underway. Following the missile interceptions, authorities declared it safe for residents to leave protected areas nationwide. Iran’s state media also confirmed the launch of a missile targeting Israel.
In a related development, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported the deaths of two Indonesian peacekeepers on Monday in southern Lebanon, marking the second fatal incident within 24 hours. Their vehicle was destroyed by an explosion of unknown origin, which also left two other peacekeepers wounded, one seriously. The UN mission is investigating the circumstances surrounding these fatalities, which followed another attack the previous day that killed one Indonesian peacekeeper and injured three others near a UNIFIL position.
Lebanon’s army confirmed that an Israeli strike killed one of its soldiers in the south, while a security source disclosed that three Hezbollah members were killed during an Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs. UNIFIL is conducting inquiries to determine whether these incidents were caused by Hezbollah or Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) actions. UN under-secretary-general for peace operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix condemned the attacks, emphasizing the urgent need to protect peacekeepers. France, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has requested a meeting to address the situation, and Spain has also condemned the violence.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun denounced the targeting of peacekeeping forces during a phone call with the UNIFIL commander and is actively engaging in international efforts to initiate dialogue with Israel. The UN special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, called for an immediate ceasefire to halt the ongoing destruction.
State media reported Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon and the adjacent West Bekaa region, with roads blocked following evacuation orders for several towns. The Lebanese army stated that one of its soldiers was killed in a direct Israeli attack on a checkpoint in the Tyre area, marking the first such targeting of an army position since the conflict began. Previously, eight off-duty Lebanese soldiers had been reported killed in southern and eastern Lebanon.
On Monday, two airstrikes struck Beirut’s southern suburbs, including an apartment building in the Bir Hassan district. Hezbollah gunmen secured the site after the attack. The strike resulted in the deaths of three Hezbollah members and injuries to three others. The building, located in a densely populated commercial neighborhood, suffered damage to several shops and businesses. The attack followed Israeli warnings for residents to evacuate parts of the southern suburbs, many of whom had already fled.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for multiple attacks against Israeli targets in southern Lebanon and across the border, including an assault on an intelligence base near Tel Aviv. The group reported intense fighting with Israeli forces in the Ainata area of southern Lebanon.
