The IDF struck an armed terrorist cell that was identified operating near Israeli forces on the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon's security zone Tuesday, the military announced.
The military said the squad was identified close to IDF troops operating in the area, near the village of Tabnit. Forces acted immediately upon identification, striking the militants north of the security zone to neutralize the threat.
"The IDF identified a short time ago an armed terrorist cell operating near IDF forces operating in the security zone, on the Ali Taher ridge," IDF Spokesman Meit Segal said. "Immediately after identification and in a rapid close of the circle, the forces struck the terrorists north of the security zone in order to neutralize the threat."
The IDF released footage showing a dead terrorist with a weapon beside him.
"The IDF will continue to operate to remove immediate threats and will not allow the Hezbollah terror organization to harm Israeli citizens or our forces," the statement added.
Doron Kadosh clarified: Two strikes were carried out against two terrorist cells –
- An armed terrorist cell of 2-3 operatives who were eliminated near the Ali al-Taher ridge as they advanced toward our forces. They were eliminated near and just before crossing the Yellow Line.
- Another cell of 4 additional operatives who were operating near the Ali al-Taher ridge under civilian guise. They were targeted via a drone strike and small-arms fire by our forces – 2 of them were eliminated and the remaining 2 were wounded.
Hezbollah stated:
"At 11:30 AM, the Israeli army opened machine-gun fire from within residential buildings toward a group of civilians in the Al-Deir neighborhood of Nabatieh, who were cleared pathways and recovering the bodies of the deceased from beneath the rubble.
As a result of this attack, two civilians were killed, one of whom was a municipal employee, and others were injured.
The Islamic Resistance warns that this act by the enemy constitutes a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, to which the Resistance remains committed."
It's unclear whether they are responding to a separate incident in Nabatieh.
