IDF says explosive that killed Lebanese soldier was planted by Hezbollah

An explosive device that killed a Lebanese soldier in southern Lebanon earlier today was planted by Hezbollah, according to the Israeli military.

The Lebanese Armed Forces announced earlier that a soldier was killed, and an officer and another soldier were wounded when a suspicious object exploded in an army vehicle in the southern Lebanese town of Mansouri.

The IDF says that following an examination, “it was determined that the explosive device was not an IDF device, but rather one that was apparently planted by the Hezbollah terror organization.”

The military says that Israeli troops have not been present in Mansouri recently, despite it being located within the IDF’s security zone.

The LAF vehicle had entered the security zone without prior coordination with the IDF as required, the military says.

The IDF says it calls on Lebanese civilians and forces “to avoid entering locations where Hezbollah continues to pose a threat, and to coordinate movements in advance as customary, for their own safety.”