Israel kills 6 Lebanese in new truce violation, claims withdrawal of some brigades from south

The Israeli army has said it killed six people, whom Hezbollah says were civilians, in southern Lebanon in new truce violation. (Photo/AP)

The Israeli army has said it killed six people, whom Hezbollah says were civilians, in southern Lebanon amid continued violations of an ongoing US-brokered ceasefire by Tel Aviv.

An Israeli military statement on Thursday claimed the victims were Hezbollah fighters and "posed a threat" to army forces in the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiya and Ali al-Taher heights.

The Israeli army, however, did not provide independent evidence to verify the identities of the dead or the nature of the alleged threat to its forces.

Hezbollah said an Israeli drone strike targeting civilians in southern Lebanon constituted a "flagrant" violation of the ceasefire, despite its own continued commitment to the truce.

In a statement, the Lebanese group said the strike targeted two civilians in the town of Kfar Reman in Nabatieh district, killing both.

The group described the attack as the second deliberate targeting of Lebanese civilians by the Israeli army within 48 hours.

Hezbollah said it remained committed to the ceasefire agreement while continuing to monitor and document Israeli violations.

In a later statement, it denied a claim by the Israeli army that Israeli forces killed Hezbollah members in the town of Zawtar in southern Lebanon on Thursday and said the targets were displaced civilians who were checking their homes.

Earlier, Lebanon’s state news agency said two people were killed in an Israeli drone strike targeting an SUV on the road between Tall al-Dabsha and Douha Kfar Reman in Nabatieh.

In a separate incident, an Israeli drone dropped two stun grenades on the town of Baraashit in Bint Jbeil district, according to the agency.

The attacks came a day after two people were killed and a third was wounded by Israel while carrying out road work in Nabatieh al-Fawqa.

Israeli invasion

Meanwhile, the Israeli army claimed it had begun withdrawing some combat brigades from southern Lebanon back into Israel amid the ongoing Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

The Army Radio, citing military correspondent Doron Kadosh, said the army has started reducing its forces in southern Lebanon and pulling some combat brigades back into Israel.

The broadcaster said the move is part of a broader plan to reduce the number of combat forces invading Lebanon while keeping some brigades in a phase of "raising readiness" and training.

It added that reserve forces under the General Staff would later be used as needed.

The report added that brigades deployed in besieged Gaza and those invading Lebanon are expected to rotate in the near future, with some units moving to the northern front while others are sent south.

Each brigade, according to Army Radio, will spend around a month in training and readiness activities away from occupation duties, even as the Israeli army occupies several positions in southern Lebanon despite an ongoing ceasefire agreement.

Israel has killed over 4,200 people and wounded over 12,000 others in its aggression in Lebanon since March 2.

Israel continues to occupy areas in southern Lebanon, some held for decades and others seized during the 2023-2024 aggression.

During its latest invasion, Israeli forces advanced more than 10 kilometres into Lebanese territory.

Last week, the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding that calls for ending hostilities across multiple fronts, including Lebanon, as part of efforts to reach a lasting peace agreement between the two sides.

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Source: TRT