• Lebanon’s Prime Minister celebrates the withdrawal of Israeli forces from a pilot zone in the south as residents demand to be allowed to return home.

Syrian worker wounded by Israeli gunfire in southern Lebanon

A Syrian worker is receiving medical care after being wounded by Israeli fire in the Nabaa Ibl area of Marjayoun district, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.

It identified the worker as Mondher Al-Balloul and said he was transported by the Lebanese Red Cross to the Marjayoun Governmental Hospital for treatment.

Lebanon’s Salam promises full state support for return of displaced residents to south

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has chaired a meeting on facilitating the return of displaced residents to southern Lebanon, outlining plans to deploy security forces, clear roads, remove rubble, restore essential services and provide temporary housing.

He pledged full state support for the return and early recovery process, saying the government would stand with residents throughout the reconstruction effort.

Salam’s comments come after the Lebanese army deployed troops earlier this week to the southern village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, one of three “pilot zone” villages whose security it is taking over as part of a deal with Israel overseen by the US.

Under the US-mediated framework agreement, the Israeli military is set to perform a phased retreat from the locations it occupies in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese military will then take over security arrangements and oversee the disarmament of Hezbollah.

Lebanon, Israel and the US agreed to the framework on June 26, after six rounds of face-to-face negotiations. However, Israel continues to carry out attacks in Lebanon as Hezbollah fires rockets into northern Israel.

Israeli forces continue attacks across southern Lebanon despite army deployment

Israeli forces have continued military operations across southern Lebanon, carrying out explosions, shelling, drone strikes and ground incursions despite the Lebanese army’s deployment to Zawtar al-Gharbiya earlier this week.

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that the Israeli military carried out a large explosion in the town of Tiyri in the Bint Jbeil district. It also said Israeli forces, backed by bulldozers and military vehicles, advanced into the nearby town of Serbine while firing heavy machine guns.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s army commander, General Rodolphe Haikal, visited Zawtar al-Gharbiya to inspect the deployment of troops and efforts to facilitate the return of residents.

A paramedic source in Zawtar al-Gharbiya said that rescue teams have so far recovered three bodies from the town, while civilians continue waiting to return to their homes.

Israeli drone strike wounds paramedics in southern Lebanon

An Israeli drone strike has wounded several paramedics in southern Lebanon, according to the country’s National News Agency (NNA).

The state news agency said a missile struck a Civil Defence vehicle belonging to the Islamic Health Authority on the Nabatieh al-Fawqa–Dar al-Mu’allimin road, injuring the crew.

The reported attack coincided with heavy Israeli artillery shelling of Ali al-Taher hill on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, the NNA said.