Israeli airstrikes targeted Lebanese Army soldiers in southern Lebanon on Monday, killing at least two and critically wounding several others in what marks a dangerous escalation from strikes on Hezbollah to attacks on the country's regular military forces.
Five soldiers were wounded in Qaqa'iya al-Jisr, Nabatieh, when Israeli aircraft struck their vehicle and motorcycle convoy, according to a statement from the Lebanese Army's official account. Two soldiers died from their injuries, the military confirmed in subsequent reports.
The soldiers were conducting routine patrols when targeted, according to Lebanese security officials. The army emphasized the personnel were regular forces, not Hezbollah fighters embedded within military units.
"This crosses a red line," a Lebanese security official told Al Jadeed television, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Targeting the Lebanese state's military forces undermines what little authority remains."
The Israel Defense Forces have not commented on the incident. Israeli strikes in Lebanon have intensified in recent weeks, primarily targeting Hezbollah positions and infrastructure in the south and Bekaa Valley.
But striking regular army forces represents a qualitatively different threat to Lebanese state sovereignty. The Lebanese Armed Forces, while significantly weaker than Hezbollah militarily, represent the country's internationally recognized national defense institution and receive training and equipment from Western partners including the United States, France, and the United Kingdom.
In this region, today's headline is yesterday's history repeating. Lebanon's military has attempted to maintain neutrality in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, even as the group operates extensively in areas where army units are also deployed. The Lebanese government has long claimed its forces are distinct from Hezbollah, despite the militia's de facto control over southern territories.
