A damaged army vehicle on July 18, 2026, around 1 p.m., in the village of Mansouri (Sour), following an explosion of ‘’unknown origin’’ according to the Lebanese Army, which has launched an investigation. (Credit: Muntasser Abdallah/L'Orient-Le Jour)
An explosion struck a Lebanese Army vehicle early Saturday afternoon in the village of Mansouri, in the Sour district, killing one soldier and wounding two others, according to a military statement and information from our correspondent in southern Lebanon.
In a statement, the Lebanese Army said one soldier was killed and that an officer and another soldier were wounded after a ‘’suspicious object’’ exploded as their vehicle passed through Mansouri, a coastal village located a few kilometers north of the ‘Yellow Line’ marking the boundary of the Israeli-occupied zone. The army added that ‘’an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the incident.’’
In the immediate aftermath of the blast, some reports suggested the vehicle may have been targeted in an Israeli strike, as Mansouri has been repeatedly targeted by Israeli forces in recent days. Israeli forces reportedly sent a remote-controlled vehicle into the area on Friday and carried out airstrikes there early Saturday.
The soldier killed in the explosion was identified as Sgt. Maj. Ahmad Sami Khalil, from the village of Froun, in the Bint Jbeil district.
Israeli forces have occupied parts of southern Lebanon since the latest conflict between Hezbollah and Israel resumed on March 2. Direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel have been underway since April, with a framework agreement signed in June and the latest round of talks held this week in Rome. Under the June agreement, Israeli forces are expected to withdraw from designated pilot zones in South Lebanon, where the Lebanese Army would subsequently deploy in coordination through the U.S. mediator.
Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his desire to see an Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon. Israel, however, has so far refused to withdraw from villages located within the ‘Yellow Line.’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is instead seeking U.S. approval for a new type of military operation involving limited incursions into Hezbollah-controlled areas to dismantle military positions and seize weapons before handing the territory over to the Lebanese Army. These operations would take place outside the « Yellow Line. » Netanyahu is expected to discuss the proposal with Trump during a planned visit to Washington, although his departure, initially scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed.
Israeli attacks continue
Israeli attacks continued across southern Lebanon overnight and throughout Saturday morning.
On Friday evening, after 9 p.m., Israeli artillery shelled the outskirts of Haddatha toward Haris, in the Bint Jbeil district. Haddatha remains occupied by Israeli forces, while Haris, which has been repeatedly targeted in recent days, lies north of the ‘Yellow Line.’ Haddatha was targeted again on Saturday morning.
Shortly after 3 a.m., Israeli fighter jets carried out two airstrikes on Mansouri.
In the Nabatieh district, after 6:30 a.m., the Israeli army carried out a demolition in Kfar Tebnit and opened heavy machine-gun fire toward Zawtar al-Sharqieh.
Throughout the day, Israeli drones flew over Saida, Nabatieh and Beirut’s southern suburbs.
