Israel reports first soldier deaths in south Lebanon since June 28
Two reservists were killed in fighting as US-brokered talks to end hostilities continued in Rome.
TEL AVIV – Israel has reported the first deaths of its soldiers in south Lebanon in more than a month after launching fresh strikes, even as United States-brokered talks to end hostilities were under way in Rome.
The Israeli military identified two reservists killed in fighting a day earlier as Major Harel Birenstock, 34, and Master Sergeant Tamir Vaknin, 33, of Battalion 2855, Brigade 55.
The deaths were the first Israeli military fatalities reported in south Lebanon since June 28.
The Israeli strikes, accompanied by the first evacuation warnings in weeks, came as Washington led negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Rome, with Beirut pressing for a phased Israeli withdrawal from the south.
"In response to blatant violations of the ceasefire by the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, the IDF has begun carrying out precise strikes in south Lebanon," the Israeli military said in a statement, shortly after residents of the southern town of Mansouri were ordered to leave.
Lebanon's official media reported one person killed and 11 others wounded in separate strikes.
Rome session cut short
In Rome, Israel asked for that day's talks with Lebanon to end three hours early, a source at the negotiations told AFP. The source said the head of the Israeli delegation, Yechiel Leiter, blamed alleged misleading leaks by the Lebanese side.
The talks were nevertheless expected to resume on Thursday for a third and final day.
In earlier US-brokered rounds, Israel and Lebanon agreed on a framework covering the disarmament of Hezbollah, a phased Israeli military withdrawal from south Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese army in the area, beginning in a trial area known as the "pilot zone".
This week's negotiations are the seventh round since Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the West Asian war in March by firing rockets at Israel in support of its ally Iran.
Israel responded with massive air strikes and a ground incursion that Lebanon says has killed more than 4,300 people. – AFP
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