Lebanese soldiers deployed at the site of an Israeli strike against a building in the Mar Takla neighborhood, in Hazmiyeh, in the eastern suburbs of Beirut, on March 23, 2026. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/L'Orient-Le Jour)
BEIRUT - An Israeli drone strike killed Lebanese Army soldier on Tuesday after targeting the area around the Qaraoun Dam, in southern Bekaa.
His body was recovered on Wednesday after remaining inaccessible for several hours. He has been identified as Salah Souni, from the village of Mhaidtheh (Rashaya district), according to our correspondent in the region.
Souni is the 20th Lebanese soldier killed in Israeli strikes since the resumption of the war on March 2.
Two rescuers from the Islamic Mission Scouts (al-Rissala, affiliated with the Amal Movement) were also killed Tuesday at the same location after an Israeli drone carried out a "double tap strike" targeting them after they arrived at the scene to help the soldier.
They have been identified as Kamel Zein and Ahmad Qazouini, both from the village of Sohmor (West Bekaa).
Israel initially refused to grant a Lebanese Army request for evacuation through the "mechanism," established during the cease-fire on Nov. 27, 2024, to recover its soldier's body.
The intense Israeli bombardments on south Lebanon and the Bekaa have killed at least 34 people in total and injured around forty, according to information relayed by our correspondents and a report from the Ministry of Health.
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