The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) apologized today for a strike in southern Lebanon that killed three Lebanese soldiers, the Associated Press reported, citing BTA.
The Israeli army said it struck a truck yesterday that had entered an area where a Hezbollah truck carrying a launcher and rockets had previously been attacked.
The Israeli military said they did not know the second truck belonged to the Lebanese army. The IDF said it “does not act against the Lebanese army and apologizes for these unwanted consequences”.
The Lebanese army is a respected institution in the country, but it is not strong enough to impose its will on “Hezbollah” or to defend Lebanon from Israeli invasion. The army largely stayed away, while Israel and “Hezbollah” have been trading blows for the past year.
Israeli forces invaded southern Lebanon at the beginning of the month and are operating in a narrow strip along the border. Israel is carrying out airstrikes across large areas of the country, targeting sites that the Jewish state says are linked to “Hezbollah”.
The armed group has fired thousands of rockets, projectiles and drones at Israel since October 8 last year, a day after its ally “Hamas” launched a surprise attack on Israel, sparking the Gaza war.