THE Israeli military said today that two of its soldiers were killed in combat in southern Lebanon — the first Israeli deaths since the implementation of a shaky truce between Israel and Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah in June.

Four other soldiers were seriously wounded, the military said. The deaths had been reported by Israeli media a day earlier.

The Israeli army launched strikes Wednesday in southern Lebanon in response to what it described as Hezbollah’s violation of the ceasefire and issued a call for residents of the village of Mansouri to flee — the first such warning Israel has issued in Lebanon for weeks.

There was no immediate statement from Hezbollah.

The escalation came as Lebanese and Israeli negotiators met in Rome to discuss implementation of a June 26 deal under which Israeli forces are supposed to withdraw from areas they occupy in southern Lebanon and allow the Lebanese army to take control, in exchange for Hezbollah’s disarmament.

Wednesday’s talks ended early due to the escalation on the ground. 

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said one person was killed and 12 wounded in an Israeli strike in the town of Tebnine Wednesday. 

The National News Agency reported more people wounded in overnight strikes on the village of Burj al-Shemali, but the number was not clear. Artillery shelling also targeted the areas of Mansouri and Majdal Zoun, it said.

The latest Israel-Hezbollah war erupted on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets across the border two days after the United States and Israel launched their illegal and unprovoked attacks on Iran. 

More than 4,000 people have been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon since then, including hundreds of civilians. About 40 soldiers and three civilians have been reported killed on the Israeli side.

Israeli forces have continued to occupy swathes of southern Lebanon and have been carrying out regular air strikes and shelling on the civilian population.