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Israeli troops carried out a fresh strike in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, with the military saying it targeted an armed group operating near its forces despite a ceasefire that has largely reduced fighting in recent days.
The strike comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah that took effect last week following mediation involving the United States, Qatar and Iran, after a sharp escalation in fighting that raised fears of a wider regional war and threatened ongoing diplomatic efforts.
"A short while ago, the IDF identified a cell of armed terrorists operating in close proximity to IDF soldiers in the security zone in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area," the Israeli forces said in a statement. The military said the group was spotted near Israeli troops operating in the area before soldiers carried out a strike.
According to the statement, troops then struck the group north of the security zone "to remove the threat." Israeli authorities did not provide any further details on the operation, including the number of people targeted or whether there were casualties.
Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA), however, reported that Israeli fire killed two young men in Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon.
The agency said Israeli soldiers opened fire on a group of four people near a bulldozer working to reopen a road in the town's Deir neighborhood. Two people were wounded and transported to the Lebanese Popular Aid Hospital in Nabatieh, according to NNA. One later succumbed to his injuries, bringing the death toll to two.
The latest strike coincided with a fifth round of U.S.-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington, part of a diplomatic track launched earlier this year to address security arrangements along the border and prevent a wider conflict. The negotiations run from June 23 to 25 and include political, military and technical discussions.
Beirut is seeking a timetable for a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, while Israel maintains that any lasting agreement must address Hezbollah's military presence and capabilities. Despite the recent ceasefire, both sides remain far apart on key issues, raising doubts about the prospects for a breakthrough.
The talks are taking place under the shadow of the recent U.S.-Iran understanding that helped secure the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, a development that has temporarily reduced violence but left major disputes unresolved.
According to official Lebanese figures, Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed more than 4,100 people and wounded over 12,000 others since March 2.
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