An Israeli strike that killed three Lebanese soldiers in southern Lebanon on Saturday cast fresh doubt on a newly announced U.S.-brokered ceasefire initiative, with Beirut accusing Israel of undermining diplomatic efforts just days after the two sides agreed to pursue a truce and broader peace talks.
The strike targeted a Lebanese Army patrol on the Khardali-Nabatieh road, killing two officers and a soldier, according to Lebanese authorities. The attack came as negotiations continue in Washington to halt months of cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
In a strongly worded statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strike, calling it a “flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty and international laws and norms.”
Aoun said the attack occurred amid a continuing Israeli military escalation that threatens security and stability in southern Lebanon despite Lebanon’s efforts in Washington to reach an agreement that would end Israeli attacks.
The president said the three soldiers joined a growing list of military and civilian victims of the conflict, including women, children, ambulance and rescue workers, and journalists who have been killed during hostilities in southern Lebanon.
He extended condolences to the Lebanese Armed Forces and the families of the victims, praising what he described as the sacrifices of military personnel defending the country’s sovereignty.
“Lebanon will not tolerate any lapse in protecting its land and people,” Aoun said, adding that the attacks would not deter the country from asserting its national rights.
He also called on the international community to assume its responsibilities by helping stop repeated attacks and ensuring implementation of relevant international resolutions to preserve Lebanon’s security and stability.
The strike casts a shadow over a diplomatic breakthrough announced earlier this week.
On Wednesday, the United States, Israel and Lebanon released a joint statement through the U.S. Department of State saying Israel and Lebanon had agreed to implement a ceasefire following U.S.-mediated negotiations in Washington.
Under the agreement, the two sides committed to continue direct negotiations aimed at reaching a broader security and peace arrangement and resolving outstanding issues between them.
The announcement had raised hopes of a reduction in hostilities after months of clashes and Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon, but Saturday’s strike underscored the challenges facing negotiators seeking to translate diplomatic commitments into lasting calm on the ground.
After the killing of the three Lebanese soldiers, the Israeli military said it had struck the vehicle after identifying what it described as a threat to its forces and receiving indications that Hezbollah was preparing to fire on Israeli troops from the area. An initial inquiry found that two Lebanese army officers and a soldier were inside the vehicle, and the incident was under review, it said.
