An Israeli army vehicle operates in Zawtar Sharqieh, as seen from Zawtar Gharbieh, southern Lebanon, Oct. 1, 2026. (Credit: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)
BEIRUT — An Israeli force accompanied by a military bulldozer continued uprooting trees Friday on the outskirts of Zawtar Gharbieh (Nabatieh), a "pilot zone" in south Lebanon, just a few dozen meters from a Lebanese Army post. Israeli artillery fire also continued in areas it occupies, according to our correspondent.
In Zawtar Gharbieh, where the Lebanese Army deployed in July under the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, Israeli soldiers and a bulldozer reached about 50 meters from the Lebanese position near the village’s water reservoir. Since Thursday, Israel has been uprooting trees in the area.
Israel had not occupied Zawtar Gharbieh before the agreement, but the village remained under Israeli attacks. The neighboring Israeli-occupied village of Zawtar Sharqieh continues to face near-daily gunfire and demolitions.
Meanwhile, Israeli artillery continued in the South, namely near Braasheet (Bint Jbeil). Earlier Friday, Israeli forces fired on the valleys of Zebqine (Sour) and Slouqi (Marjayoun), as well as Nabatieh Fawqa and the area near Mayfadoun (Nabatieh). Israeli airstrikes also hit Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh) at dawn.
Hezbollah announced the funeral of one of its fighters, Thaer Abdel Kader Kaddouh, from Yaroun, will take place Sunday in Nafakhieh. The group did not specify where or when he was killed.
On Thursday night, the Israeli army announced that an officer had been killed and three other soldiers wounded when their Humvee overturned on a road in south Lebanon. The officer served in Battalion 603 of the 7th Brigade. "Captain Eliav Haim Tzapalamus, 21, was killed in action," the army said in a statement Thursday. He was the 17th Israeli soldier killed since Lebanon and Israel reached the framework agreement.
Overnight Thursday to Friday, Israeli artillery also hit the Wadi Slouqi, Kfar Tibnit and Mansouri (Sour). A Merkava tank stationed in Bayyada fired several shells toward the plain, while an Israeli airstrike destroyed a building in Mansouri. Israeli forces also demolished homes in Kfar Kila (Marjayoun). Artillery fire additionally targeted Braasheet and the outskirts of Aita al-Jabal and Haddatha (Bint Jbeil).
Additional reporting by Muntasser Abdallah.
