Lebanon\u2019s state-run National News Agency (NNA) on Wednesday said Israeli troops carried out detonations in southern villages, including in Zawtar al-Shariqya, which abuts one of the pilot zones.<\/p>\n
\t Lebanon\u2019s army said Israel had blown up \u201cthe municipal building in Zawtar al-Shariqya\u201d as well as \u201ca public school, a health clinic, a children\u2019s nursery and a number of homes.\u201d<\/p>\n Hezbollah is heavily entrenched in civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon. The Iran-backed terror group opposes a framework deal<\/a> signed in June between Israel and Lebanon that stemmed the conflict in southern Lebanon, and is meant to lead to Hezbollah\u2019s disarmament and an eventual withdrawal of the IDF from the country, as well as a potential peace accord between the nations.<\/p>\n \t The Lebanese army is meant to take over areas evacuated by Israeli troops. So far, two such zones exist. Rodolphe Haykal, chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces, met on Wednesday with visiting US General Joseph Clearfield, who heads a coordination group involved with the June agreement.<\/p>\n The pair discussed \u201cdevelopments in the south and security arrangements\u201d relating to the deal, the Lebanese military said, as well as \u201cthe difficulties the army faces in carrying out its missions, primarily due to the continuing attacks, bulldozing and destruction by the Israeli occupation.\u201d<\/p>\n Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also met Clearfield, his office said, and discussed the implementation of the framework deal.<\/p>\n Last week\u2019s round of US-sponsored talks ended early on their second day, amid an escalation in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Beirut is also frustrated with the pace of Israeli withdrawals, feeling that Jerusalem is dragging its feet ahead of October elections, while Israel argues that verification of Hezbollah disarmament must be completed first.<\/p>\n Israel and Lebanon are to hold an eighth round of US-sponsored negotiations next month<\/a>, in Rome.<\/p>\n \t Israeli official denies okaying list of countries overseeing disarmament<\/p>\n Separately, an Israeli official denied a report by Reuters that it agreed with Lebanon on naming Britain, Italy, Switzerland and Indonesia as potential contributors to a proposed mechanism that could see foreign troops deployed to Lebanon to verify Hezbollah\u2019s disarmament.<\/p>\n The Prime Minister\u2019s Office had no immediate comment on the report, but the official denied that any agreement<\/a> had been reached regarding the countries that will make up the verification committee, and said that talks on the matter are still ongoing.<\/p>\n According to Reuters, the shortlist emerged from US-mediated talks in Rome last week.<\/p>\n The countries could help define the mechanism\u2019s scope, provide personnel to oversee its implementation or contribute troops to observe or take part in inspections verifying disarmament, three sources said.<\/p>\n A source with direct knowledge of the matter said discussions surrounding the shortlisted countries are in the early stages, but says they are \u201ccautiously optimistic\u201d the effort will proceed.<\/p>\n Switzerland\u2019s foreign ministry told Reuters it is exploring ways to support \u201cvarious stabilization processes,\u201d but declined to provide details. A British Foreign Office spokesperson said Britain is ready to support efforts to de-escalate tensions and long-term security, particularly in southern Lebanon, without elaborating.<\/p>\n The Lebanese presidency and Indonesian foreign ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n \t Firefighters accuse Israel of starting blazes in south Lebanon \u2014 report<\/p>\n Firefighters in Lebanon told the Guardian news outlet<\/a> on Wednesday that the IDF has purposely been starting fires in the border area, where there is dense vegetation, a terrain which poses a challenge to Israeli forces.<\/p>\n It is believed such fires are intended to aid the army in identifying terrorists trying to infiltrate Israel or carry out attacks on the border.<\/p>\n Hussein Fakih, head of the civil defense in the Nabatieh area, told the Guardian that most of his missions relate to fires.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are enormous areas of woodland that have burned. I don\u2019t have the exact figures, but in the areas close to the [frontline], around 30-40% of the land has been affected by fires,\u201d he told the Guardian.<\/p>\n \u201cSmall drones come out and drop incendiary materials, [white] phosphorus shells are fired at the woodlands, in addition to illumination flares that they drop during the daytime so the vegetation catches fire,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n The Guardian reported that firefighters in other areas reported similar activities. According to the outlet, firefighters must relay requests to fight fires through the Lebanese army, which contacts a deconfliction mechanism set up to ensure the ceasefire.<\/p>\n In response to the report, the IDF said its activities are \u201cconducted while taking precautionary measures to mitigate harm to civilians and the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n Additionally, the IDF said overnight that its air defenses launched an interceptor toward a target in southern Lebanon that was later determined to be gunfire by Israeli troops operating in the area.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG-20250202-WA0004-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tFile: Defense Minister Israel Katz, center, visits an IDF position in southern Lebanon alongside senior IDF officials, February 2, 2025. (Ariel Hermoni\/Defense Ministry)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26203282672325-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tIn this photo released by the Lebanese Government press office, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, center, raises a Lebanese flag during a visit to the southern village of Zawtar Al Gharbieh, Lebanon, July 22, 2026. (Lebanese Government press office via AP)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26216348650608-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tA motorcade arrives at the United States Embassy in Rome, Italy, where ambassador-level talks between Israel and Lebanon are expected to take place, August 4, 2026. (AP\/Gregorio Borgia)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/F260812AMA50-e1786561485809-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tExplosion of infrastructure in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side. August 12, 2026. (Ayal Margolin\/FLASH90)<\/p>\n
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