Tyre: A Lebanese soldier died in southern Lebanon when an explosive device detonated in a military vehicle, the Lebanese military reported on Sunday. The incident occurred in the village of Mansouri, south of the coastal city of Tyre, and involved a "suspicious object" inside the military vehicle.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Israeli military stated that the bomb had "most likely" been planted by Hezbollah. They added that Israeli troops had not recently been operating in the area. Hezbollah has not commented on the incident as of yet. This development comes amid ongoing negotiations over a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which includes Israeli forces withdrawing from two areas in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese army is set to take control of these 'pilot zones,' a move intended to facilitate a gradual withdrawal of Israeli ground troops, who have been engaged in fighting with Hezbollah.
Local reports indicate that the Lebanese army has already increased its presence in several towns in the south. At the same time, concerns are mounting over the potential for an open confrontation between Hezbollah and the Lebanese army. Under pressure from the United States, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is seeking to disarm Hezbollah. However, the Iran-backed Shiite militant group has rejected the disarmament proposal.
Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayad recently remarked that "the problem with this government has become very, very serious," warning of "unpleasant consequences." The Israeli withdrawal from the two zones is seen as a test of whether the Lebanese army can assert control over southern Lebanon. President Aoun is currently in Washington at the invitation of US President Donald Trump. The US is mediating the talks between Lebanon and Israel, which led to the agreement on Israel's withdrawal from the two zones.