Israeli Soldiers Kill Two Men and Strike Armed Cell in Southern Lebanon

Israeli soldiers shot dead two men in southern Lebanon on 23 June 2026, the first fatal incident reported since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took hold over the weekend. The Lebanese health ministry confirmed the deaths of Mohammed Amhaz and Sajed al-Hajj Ali.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said the men were standing near a bulldozer that was unblocking a road in the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa.

They were part of a team from the Islamic Health Association working to reopen roads and recover bodies in the al-Deir neighbourhood. Hezbollah condemned the shooting as a blatant violation of the ceasefire. The Israeli military said soldiers in the Ali al-Taher ridge area fired at four Hezbollah members riding a bulldozer and a motorcycle who had crossed into an Israeli-declared security zone and ignored warning shots.

It released a photo showing one of the men holding a rifle. In a separate incident, Israeli soldiers struck a cell of armed terrorists north of the security zone. There were no immediate reports of casualties from that strike.

The ceasefire was agreed on Friday afternoon after four Israeli soldiers were killed in a Hezbollah attack on their tank in Kfar Tebnit early that day. The Israeli military responded with more than 150 air strikes that the Lebanese health ministry said killed 83 people. Another 20 people were killed in fresh Israeli air strikes across Lebanon on Saturday.

The ceasefire has largely held since Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday night that Israeli troops had full freedom of action against any Hezbollah threat and would remain in Lebanon as long as necessary. Lebanese and Israeli officials opened talks in Washington on Tuesday aimed at advancing a comprehensive peace and security agreement.