A man in front of a burning motorcycle in Doueir, in the Nabatieh district, on March 17, 2026. (Credit: Mountasser Abdallah/ OLJ)
BEIRUT — Three Lebanese soldiers were killed and five others injured in three Israeli strikes targeting military personnel Tuesday in the Nabatieh region, at Qaaqaaiyet al-Jisr, Doueir and Zibdin. The soldiers were targeted by drones while traveling on roads in the area, south of the Zahrani River, a zone the Israeli army had again called to evacuate earlier in the morning.
The Lebanese army confirmed that one of its soldiers died from wounds sustained during an Israeli drone strike that targeted a group of five soldiers as they traveled in a civilian vehicle on a road in Qaaqaaiyet al-Jisr. The four other wounded soldiers, one of whom is in serious condition, are still hospitalized, according to the military.
According to information from our correspondent in the South, the soldiers were returning from duty and not on patrol, and all were wearing their uniforms. Two others were targeted by a drone while also riding a scooter in Zibdin, according to information from our correspondent and a brief statement issued by the military. Another soldier was targeted and seriously wounded while riding a two-wheeler in Doueir.
Commenting on the strike in “Froun,” a village neighboring Qaaqaaiyet al-Jisr, Arabic-language spokeswoman for the Israeli army Ella Waweya said an investigation is underway into the strike that “wounded several Lebanese army soldiers.” “We affirm that the Israeli army acts against Hezbollah and not against the Lebanese army nor Lebanese civilians,” she said.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed, 886 people since March 2, including 111 children, according to an updated total as of March 16. The Israeli army said it has eliminated about 400 Hezbollah fighters.
This is not the first time Lebanese soldiers have been killed by Israel since the escalation of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel on March 2, even though the army is not participating in the fighting. Last week, two soldiers were killed in another drone strike in Souaneh (Marjayoun), and in a bombing in Braasheet (Bint Jbeil).
Additional reporting by Mountasser Abdallah.
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