Israeli Forces Kill Six Hezbollah Operatives in Zawtar Al-Sharqiyah and Ali Al-Taher Ridge

The Israeli army said it killed six Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon in two separate incidents, with five identified in Zawtar al-Sharqiyah and a sixth in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area.

“An Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon has killed at least two people despite fighting between Israel and Hezbollah quieting down in recent days after demands by both the United States and Iran for a ceasefire”

Al Jazeera

Firstpost reported that the Israeli military said troops and air force units eliminated six Hezbollah operatives and were continuing operations near the Ali Taher ridge, where it claims dozens of militants remain inside an underground network.

Al Jazeera

The IDF said it would not allow Hezbollah fighters to exit the underground tunnel network or operate in the area of the ridge, according to Firstpost’s account of the military’s statement.

France 24 reported that Israeli and Lebanese negotiators in Washington are discussing a US-backed pilot project under which Israeli troops would hand back control over some territory in southern Lebanon to the Lebanese Armed Forces, while Israel would maintain a military presence in a buffer zone along the border.

Hezbollah accused Israel of a new ceasefire “violation” after an Israeli drone killed two people in southern Lebanon near Kfar Rumman, according to Arab News PK and its citation of Lebanese state media.

Arab News PK quoted Hezbollah saying: "For the second time in less than 48 hours, the Israeli enemy army deliberately targeted Lebanese citizens who were inspecting their homes" near the town of Kfar Rumman.

Anadolu Ajansı

In parallel, Al Jazeera reported that an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon killed at least two people despite fighting between Israel and Hezbollah quieting down, and it said the attacks targeted a vehicle on the Tallat al-Dabsha road near Kfar Reman.

Al Jazeera also quoted Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz saying the military will not withdraw from Lebanon “even if there is an American demand,” adding that “200,000 residents will not return” in an interview with The Times of Israel.

As Israel and Lebanon held another round of talks in Washington, France 24 said the discussions include a timeline for withdrawal and that any plan would emerge only after the final day of talks on Thursday.

“BEIRUT, Lebanon: An Israeli strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon killed two people on Wednesday, Lebanese state media reported, with militant group Hezbollah calling it another “violation” of a truce between the two sides”

Arab News PK

Al Jazeera reported that Lebanese politicians affirmed it is essential that Israeli troops leave Lebanese territory and cease their attacks for the ceasefire to hold, while Israel said it would only leave when Hezbollah is fully disarmed.

In the same reporting, Al Jazeera said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told in Tel Aviv that Israel’s military objectives in Lebanon are not yet complete and that Israel is in the process of creating a zone in southern Lebanon aimed at preventing Hezbollah from staging attacks across the border.

Al Jazeera also described the situation on the ground near Tyre and Abbasiyeh, saying that in Abbasiyeh “80 percent of people have returned over recent days,” while “That is not the case for many towns and villages,” and it cited UNIFIL reporting ongoing Israeli airspace violations, mostly by drones.