At least one Lebanese person, two Israeli soldiers killed in south Lebanon

Violence in southern Lebanon has escalated despite diplomatic efforts to establish a lasting ceasefire between Israeli and Lebanese forces. An Israeli air strike targeted the town of Tibnin, striking a cemetery prayer hall and resulting in one fatality and twelve injuries according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Separately, two Israeli soldiers were killed when an improvised explosive device detonated inside a booby-trapped structure in the village of Majdal Selem, with additional soldiers wounded in the incident.

The Israeli military responded to the soldier deaths by announcing a series of what it characterized as "precise strikes" across southern Lebanon, attributing the attacks to what it described as ceasefire violations by Hezbollah. The military also issued displacement orders for residents of al-Mansouri, instructing them to relocate northward ahead of further operations.

According to Lebanon's Health Ministry, the cumulative toll since March 2 includes at least 4,333 deaths and 12,250 wounded from Israeli operations. Negotiations between the two sides continued in Rome on Wednesday and were expected to extend through Thursday, with Lebanon advocating for a phased Israeli withdrawal and cessation of attacks.

The diplomatic framework, initially agreed in June under US sponsorship, outlined commitments including Hezbollah disarmament, gradual Israeli force withdrawal, and Lebanese army deployment to southern areas designated as pilot zones. However, Hezbollah has consistently rejected direct negotiations with Israel and refused to relinquish its weapons. Observers note that despite reduced fighting intensity in recent weeks, the situation remains volatile, with sporadic Israeli air strikes continuing and residents expressing doubt about the ceasefire's durability.