The Israeli military says it is striking armed personnel within the "security zone" in southern Lebanon.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement at noon on the 23rd that the IDF had earlier carried out an attack on armed personnel in the so-called “security zone” it controls in southern Lebanon. The statement said that within the “security zone” in the Ali Taher ridge area, the IDF found a group of armed personnel operating near IDF soldiers, and the IDF then launched an attack on them. The statement did not mention the casualties caused by the strike. The statement also said the IDF would not allow Hezbollah to harm Israeli soldiers and civilians, and that it “will continue to carry out operations” to eliminate “direct threats.”

Also, according to a report from Lebanon’s National News Agency on the 23rd, Israeli forces opened fire on civilians in the Nabatieh area of southern Lebanon on the day, killing 2 people and injuring 1.

In a joint statement released on the 22nd, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Katz, and IDF Chief of Staff Zamitre reiterated that the IDF will continue conducting military operations in southern Lebanon to address “security threats,” while maintaining the so-called “security zone” controlled by Israel in southern Lebanon. (Xinhua)