Israeli forces entered the southern Lebanese village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah overnight and constructed an earth barrier roughly 100 metres from the village square, blocking a road at the eastern entrance. Three Lebanese soldiers were wounded while defusing unexploded ordnance in the area, the Lebanese army said.
The incursion struck one of two pilot zones designated under a US-sponsored framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel on June 26, which envisions Hezbollah's disarmament, a phased Israeli withdrawal, and Lebanese army deployment. The army deployed to Zawtar al-Gharbiyah on July 21, and about 50 families have since returned. The Israeli army said it had no knowledge of the incident.
The incident comes as Lebanon and Israel concluded their seventh round of US-mediated talks in Rome, with President Joseph Aoun citing positive progress on border and prisoner issues. Hezbollah rejects the direct negotiations and refuses to surrender its weapons. Israeli ground incursions continued across multiple southern villages, and shelling struck Mansouri and surrounding areas.