Israeli Shelling and Incursions Continue in Southern Lebanon as Lebanese Army Deploys in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh

Israeli violations continued in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency, as the Lebanese army’s deployment in the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh entered its second day under phase one of a framework formula agreement. Anadolu reported the agency’s account.

The agency said Israeli artillery shelled Ali al-Taher hill on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa intermittently, while an Israeli drone carried out a strike on the town.

An Israeli force advanced to the outskirts of Burj al-Muluk, on the main road linking Tall al-Nahhas to the town, the agency also reported. Troops raided a man’s home, searched it, confiscated his passport after checking his phone, and interrogated him before withdrawing toward Tall al-Nahhas. Protecting people from arbitrary intrusion into their homes is a matter of basic justice (Proverbs 31:8-9).

The agency said another Israeli force entered the border town of Sarbin, coinciding with bursts of heavy machine-gun fire in the area. It also reported overnight explosions by Israeli forces in the towns of Baraachit and Hadatha.

The Lebanese army said on Tuesday that its units had deployed in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh under phase one of the framework formula agreement with Israel, and stressed that its forces had not entered the neighboring town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh. The army said Israeli forces opened fire near its units during the mission, endangering soldiers and obstructing the deployment. Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh is one of the pilot areas included in phase one of the agreement, signed on June 26, which provides for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from areas in southern Lebanon in exchange for Lebanese army deployment there.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said on Monday that since March 2, 2026, Israel’s offensive on Lebanon had killed 4,328 people and injured 12,230 others. Those figures are the ministry’s, and the source does not give independent verification. The source also notes that Israel continues to occupy areas in the south despite the agreement, and that the suffering of the wounded and bereaved calls for care and comfort (Psalm 34:18).

The source states that Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the 2023-2024 confrontations. It also reports that Israel has advanced more than 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) into Lebanese territory during the current offensive.

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