Israeli shelling in southern Lebanon has injured two people, while Israeli troops advanced towards border towns and faced a standoff with Lebanese soldiers, according to Lebanese state media and the Lebanese army.
The two injured people were hit in artillery fire on Chaqra, in the Bint Jbeil district of Nabatieh governorate, and were taken to Tebnin hospital, the National News Agency reported.
Shells also landed in Wadi Nahla, on the outskirts of Shuqra. Israeli forces later withdrew from the outskirts of Deir Mimas in Marjayoun after advancing towards the town earlier on Friday.
The confrontation began when two Israeli tanks moved along a road towards Deir Mimas and stopped at a dirt barricade, where Lebanese army vehicles were positioned on the other side.
The Lebanese military said its forces had established a temporary observation post on the outskirts of the town on 10 September, in coordination with the US-backed military coordination group responsible for managing deconfliction between Israel and Lebanon.
“An Israeli occupation force approached the newly established post located within the so-called security zone and threw sound bombs in the vicinity,” the army said in a statement. “In response, the [Lebanese] army reinforced the post, and a state of alert ensued between the two sides.”
Israeli forces then retreated to their position in nearby Tell en-Nhas, the National News Agency reported. Lebanese troops returned to their main base after contacting the deconfliction group, the army said.
Elsewhere, Israeli forces advanced from the municipality of al-Tiri towards the outskirts of Hadatha in the Bint Jbeil district. Artillery fire was also reported in the municipalities of al-Mansouri and Majdal Zoun.
Lebanese state media said Israeli forces had set fire to the public hospital in Meiss el-Jabal. No details were immediately available about the extent of the damage or any casualties.
Israel has occupied parts of southern Lebanon since war broke out in March between Israel and Hezbollah. Under a framework agreement brokered by the United States in June, Israeli forces are to withdraw gradually and the Lebanese army is to take control of areas they leave.
Despite the agreement, Israeli attacks have continued in southern Lebanon and Israeli forces still occupy areas of the region. At least 4,386 people have been killed and 12,407 wounded in Israeli attacks since 2 March, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
The ministry said the overall toll from Israeli attacks since the start of its war on Gaza in October 2023 had reached 8,953 deaths and 30,643 injuries.
