Lebanese Army: Soldier Wounded in Israeli Strike; Report: US Urged Israel to De-escalate

The Lebanese Army announced that a soldier was lightly wounded in an Israeli strike on the village of al-Mansouri in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, sources told Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath that the US called on Israel to reduce escalation in Lebanon and expressed support for the Rome negotiations. The US State Department said the talks were productive. The incident comes two days after the deaths of two reserve soldiers in Majdal Zun.

The Lebanese Army announced that a soldier was lightly wounded in a strike that hit a military bulldozer in the village of al-Mansouri in southern Lebanon, while it was engaged in opening roads and clearing rubble. The IDF said that forces of Division 91 struck a Lebanese Army soldier in the village, but did not add further details on the circumstances of the incident. Earlier, Al-Manar, affiliated with Hezbollah, reported two Israeli drone strikes on the village and artillery fire. Meanwhile, sources told Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath that the United States informed Israel, in the framework of intensive contacts, that it must reduce escalation in Lebanon. According to the report, Washington expressed support for the negotiations taking place in Rome between Israel and Lebanon and made clear to Beirut that it is committed to the success of the talks. The US State Department said yesterday that Israel and Lebanon made progress in the negotiations, and that the professional-level talks in Rome were productive. A State Department spokesperson said the parties are "much closer" to agreement on the steps required to continue and expand the pilot areas. The incident in al-Mansouri comes two days after the incident in Majdal Zun, in which Maj. (res.) Harel Birnstock and Master Sgt. (res.) Tamir Vaknin were killed, and four IDF soldiers were seriously wounded by an explosive device. Following the event, the IDF expanded its activity in the area, and among other things attacked buildings in al-Mansouri that it said were used by Hezbollah.