Four Israeli soldiers killed in southern Lebanon, army says

Four reserve soldiers from Israel lost their lives in southern Lebanon, as reported by the military on Monday.

According to a military statement, the fatalities occurred during an "operational accident" on Sunday while the soldiers were engaged in a search for Hezbollah weaponry in the region.

The soldiers were identified as members of the 226th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade, specifically from the 9263rd Battalion.

Preliminary findings from the army indicate that the "operational accident" transpired while the troops were examining a tunnel in the Labbouneh area, where a stash of Hezbollah weapons exploded.

Since October 7, 2023, military statistics reveal that at least 813 Israeli soldiers have died in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

On November 27, a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Lebanon was enacted, aiming to conclude 14 months of conflict between the Israeli military and Hezbollah. However, this cease-fire is considered tenuous, with Lebanon documenting approximately 160 violations by Israel.

The terms of the cease-fire stipulate that Israel must gradually withdraw its forces south of the Blue Line, which serves as a de facto border, while the Lebanese army is expected to position itself in southern Lebanon within a 60-day timeframe.

The United States and France are tasked with overseeing the implementation of this agreement, although specifics regarding enforcement mechanisms remain ambiguous.

According to Lebanese health authorities, over 4,000 individuals have died and more than 16,500 have sustained injuries due to Israeli attacks in Lebanon, with over 1 million people displaced since October 2023.