IDF Officer Moderately Wounded in Clash with Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon

An officer from the IDF's Egoz unit was moderately injured during a nighttime encounter with a Hezbollah militant in Rachaya al-Taher, southern Lebanon. The militant was killed in the clash. The wounded soldier was evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment, and his family was informed. About a month ago, a reservist from the Yiftach Brigade was seriously wounded in a similar incident in southern Lebanon, near Bint Jbeil, after militants opened fire on Israeli forces.

Two weeks ago, the United States announced a pilot program for the withdrawal of IDF forces from three villages in southern Lebanon: Farran, Sarifa, and Zotar al-Arabiya. This plan, based on a framework agreement signed on June 26, involves deploying the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon, disarming Hezbollah, and gradually withdrawing Israeli forces from the area. Lebanese security officials expressed concern, stating that President Aoun agreed to demands they believe are unfeasible and could lead to a civil war with Hezbollah.

One day after the pilot announcement, a senior Lebanese security official confirmed that Lebanese army forces began entering the areas vacated by the IDF. Subsequently, the Lebanese army accused the IDF of firing near one of its units in Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon. The IDF responded that earlier in the day, its forces detected a Lebanese army engineering unit crossing about 150 meters into the security zone and breaching barriers in Zotar al-Sharqiya, violating agreements. The IDF demanded the Lebanese army adhere to the agreed boundaries, warning that any uncoordinated incursions could endanger its troops.