ISRAEL SAYS IT KILLED HEZBOLLAH FIGHTERS IN SOUTH LEBANON

The Israeli military said on Saturday that it killed Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon and that an Israeli soldier was injured, despite an active ceasefire. The military stated it identified fighters overnight in what Israel has designated a "security zone" in the south which its forces occupy. Following identification, the military said soldiers struck and eliminated the fighters to remove a threat to Israeli forces. The Israeli soldier sustained a moderate injury and was evacuated to hospital for treatment.

One report specified that three Hezbollah fighters were killed; another stated "several" without providing a precise figure. The strikes took place on the Ali Taher ridge near Beaufort Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that Israel has occupied since May. The Israeli military said it would "continue to operate to remove any threat to its soldiers and will not allow the Hezbollah terrorist organisation to harm Israeli civilians". Hezbollah did not comment when contacted by journalists in Beirut. The Iranian-backed group has not claimed any attacks since 20 June.

The incident marks a further reported violation of ceasefire terms governing the conflict in southern Lebanon. The operation took place within territory Israel controls following its incursion into the south. Israel's stated commitment to continued operations in the area suggests ongoing military activity in the region despite the ceasefire agreement.