Five Lebanese army soldiers were wounded on Sunday when an explosive device detonated beneath their military vehicle in the southern town of Kafra, in the highly volatile Bint Jbeil district of southern Lebanon, the Lebanese military said in a statement.
The soldiers had been escorting local residents back to their homes in the area when the device went off. The Lebanese army reported that all five soldiers sustained light injuries. The IDF later said the explosive device belonged to Hezbollah and was not an Israeli device, contradicting the Lebanese army’s initial attribution.
The incident occurred within the security zone that Israel has maintained in southern Lebanon since the 2026 war with Hezbollah began in March. The area remains heavily contested, with unexploded ordnance and planted devices posing ongoing dangers to both military personnel and civilians attempting to return to their homes.
Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in active hostilities since March 2026, as part of the wider regional conflict triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Despite a US-brokered framework agreement signed earlier this year, fighting has continued across southern Lebanon with frequent Israeli airstrikes and demolition operations.
The Bint Jbeil district has been one of the most heavily affected areas, with repeated clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters. The region sits along the border and has historically been a stronghold for the Lebanese militant group.
The Lebanese army, which maintains a presence in the south separate from Hezbollah, has frequently found itself caught in the crossfire. Sunday’s incident marked the second time in two weeks that a Lebanese military vehicle struck an explosive device in the south, underscoring the dangerous conditions facing soldiers operating in the zone.
The IDF said it had reviewed the incident and determined that the device was placed by Hezbollah in an area where IDF soldiers have also been operating. The conflicting accounts highlight the complex dynamics in southern Lebanon, where multiple armed forces operate in close proximity.
Sources: Tehran Times, The Yeshiva World, Sunday Guardian Live
Author: Middle East Desk
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