Israel on Thursday reported its first military fatalities in southern Lebanon in more than a month, even as US-backed negotiations in Rome continued in an effort to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Israeli military identified the two reservists killed in combat on Wednesday as Major Harel Birenstock, 34, and Sergeant Major Tamir Vaknin, 33, both from the 2855th Battalion of the 55th Brigade.
The deaths were the first Israeli military fatalities reported in southern Lebanon since June 28.
The fatalities came as Israel launched fresh strikes in southern Lebanon and issued its first evacuation warning in weeks, despite ongoing negotiations in Rome involving US, Israeli and Lebanese officials.
"In response to a blatant violation of the ceasefire by the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, the IDF has begun conducting precise strikes in southern Lebanon," the military said in a statement after warning residents of the southern town of Mansouri to evacuate.
Lebanese state media reported that a separate Israeli strike killed one person and injured 11 others.
The second day of negotiations in Rome was cut short after Israel requested an early adjournment. A source familiar with the talks told AFP that the head of the Israeli delegation, US Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, accused the Lebanese side of making "misleading leaks." The talks are expected to resume on Thursday for a third and final day.
During previous US-sponsored negotiations in June, Israel and Lebanon agreed on a framework that envisages the disarmament of Hezbollah, a phased Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese army in designated "pilot zones."
The latest meeting marks the seventh round of talks since Hezbollah entered the regional conflict in March by launching rockets into northern Israel in support of Iran. Israel responded with extensive airstrikes and a ground offensive that Lebanon says have killed more than 4,300 people.
In its first evacuation warning since June, the Israeli military instructed residents of Mansouri to leave immediately, saying Hezbollah had violated the ceasefire agreement.
"For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move north," Arabic-language military spokesperson Ella Waweya wrote on X.
The warning came a day after the UN humanitarian agency said more than 800,000 displaced people had begun returning to their homes following a recent reduction in fighting, although more than 360,000 people remain displaced.
Mansouri, located about nine kilometres south of Tyre and around 10 kilometres north of the Israeli border, has been repeatedly targeted by Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire despite the ceasefire that took effect in June. Local authorities allowed residents to return on June 22 but advised them to avoid areas within Israel's self-declared security zone.
A US State Department official said this week's discussions are focused on expanding the pilot zones, resolving outstanding border issues and working toward a comprehensive peace and security agreement.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who spoke with his Iranian counterpart before the latest strikes, urged Tehran to halt Hezbollah's military activities and expressed hope that the Rome talks would produce "concrete results."
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Tuesday dismissed the direct negotiations, saying they would bring Lebanon "nothing but shame, humiliation" and further concessions. The group has repeatedly rejected calls to disarm.
Although violence has declined since the June ceasefire and the signing of a preliminary US-Iran understanding on the wider regional conflict, Lebanon continues to report intermittent Israeli airstrikes, shelling and demolitions in southern border villages.
Since the conflict with Hezbollah escalated in March, Israel has lost 38 soldiers and one civilian contractor, according to the Israeli military.