In a statement, the Iran-backed group said Israeli forces attempted to advance toward the hills under the cover of the ceasefire. Hezbollah said its fighters ambushed the troops and engaged them with what it described as “appropriate weapons,” forcing a confrontation in the area.

The group did not provide details on casualties or the duration of the clash, and there was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on Hezbollah’s account.

Hezbollah said the incident demonstrated its determination to respond to any perceived violation of Lebanese territory while maintaining its commitment to the existing ceasefire arrangement.

“While it is committed to the ceasefire, it will not be lenient in confronting any enemy attempt to expand its occupation,” the group said in its statement.

The reported confrontation occurred near Nabatieh, a key city in southern Lebanon that has frequently been affected by hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. The Ali Taher hills are considered strategically significant because of their elevated position overlooking surrounding areas.

The claim came hours after reports of Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, where smoke was seen rising from areas around Nabatieh. The latest developments underscore the fragility of the ceasefire and the continuing risk of renewed escalation along the Israel-Lebanon frontier.

Neither side immediately released independent verification of the events described by Hezbollah.

The military identified the soldier as Master Sergeant Alexander Filin, 29, and said he “fell in combat” during operations in southern Lebanon.

According to a military statement released on Thursday, the incident also left an officer, a reserve officer and a reserve soldier moderately wounded. A combat non-commissioned officer, two reserve soldiers and a female reserve soldier sustained light injuries.

The military did not immediately provide further details regarding the circumstances of the clash or the location where the casualties occurred.

The casualties were reported a day after the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding intended to lay the groundwork for ending the broader Middle East conflict. The agreement calls for a halt in fighting across multiple fronts, including Lebanon, where hostilities have persisted for months.

Lebanon became directly involved in the regional conflict after the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement launched rocket attacks against Israel on March 2 in support of Tehran following the outbreak of hostilities involving Iran and its allies.

Israel subsequently expanded military operations in southern Lebanon, carrying out extensive airstrikes and ground offensives that it said were aimed at degrading Hezbollah’s military capabilities and preventing cross-border attacks.

Lebanese authorities say Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 3,800 people since fighting escalated earlier this year. The figures have not been independently verified.

On the Israeli side, military data indicate that 31 soldiers and one civilian contractor have been killed in connection with operations linked to the conflict since March 2, including the latest fatality.

The death of Filin comes as diplomatic negotiations continue over the future of Israeli troop deployments in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have said they are engaged in discussions with the United States regarding the possible continuation of military deployments in areas seized during the conflict, while Washington has pushed for broader efforts to stabilize the region under the emerging U.S.-Iran framework.

Despite signs of reduced hostilities in recent days, the latest casualties highlight the continuing risks faced by forces operating in southern Lebanon and the challenges confronting negotiators seeking a durable ceasefire.

An explosion was heard in the city before a vehicle was seen engulfed in flames, according to an AFP correspondent at the scene. Emergency responders and firefighters rushed to the area, where rescuers were observed pulling two people from the targeted car.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that the incident involved “an enemy strike on a car” in the center of Sidon. No immediate information was released regarding casualties or the identities of those inside the vehicle.

Sidon, a major commercial and population center on Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast, has been comparatively less affected than other parts of southern and eastern Lebanon that have experienced repeated Israeli strikes since the escalation of hostilities involving the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and Israel.

The city hosts the country’s largest Palestinian refugee camp and has also received large numbers of people displaced by ongoing conflict in southern Lebanon.

The strike was the latest reported attack on Sidon after an Israeli strike on a building in the city on May 28 killed five people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

Separately on Wednesday, the Israeli military said its forces operating in southern Lebanon detained two individuals who approached troops in the area.

In a statement, the military said soldiers identified two “suspected individuals” near positions where Israeli forces were operating. The individuals were apprehended and transferred to Israel for questioning after troops moved to eliminate any potential threat.

The military did not provide further details regarding the identities of the detainees or the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The developments underscore continuing security tensions along the Israel-Lebanon frontier, where military activity and cross-border hostilities have persisted despite international calls for de-escalation.

In separate warnings posted on social media, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged civilians to leave targeted areas immediately and move to safer locations ahead of anticipated strikes.

The initial warning covered 10 villages, most of them located in southern Lebanon, where residents were instructed to relocate at least 1,000 meters from their homes. The Israeli military said the measures were necessary because of what it described as Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire agreement.

Later in the day, Adraee issued a second evacuation notice directed at residents of one building in Rashidiyeh and two buildings in Burj Al-Shamali, both near the city of Tyre. The military alleged that the sites were located near facilities used by Hezbollah and ordered residents to move at least 300 meters away.

The warnings marked the latest escalation in a conflict that has continued despite a ceasefire that came into force on April 17. Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire on an almost daily basis since then, raising concerns about the stability of the truce and the potential for broader regional escalation.

Israeli forces have repeatedly targeted locations in and around Tyre that they say are connected to Hezbollah operations. The strikes have caused significant damage in several neighborhoods and contributed to recurring waves of civilian displacement.

Lebanese authorities say Israeli military operations since early March have killed more than 3,100 people, although the figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. The casualty toll has become a central point of contention as diplomatic efforts to reinforce the ceasefire continue.

The Israeli military separately announced that one of its soldiers was killed in southern Lebanon on Sunday. According to Israeli figures, the death brought to 23 the number of soldiers killed since the outbreak of hostilities with Hezbollah. One civilian contractor has also been reported killed.

The latest evacuation orders came as Lebanon observed Resistance and Liberation Day, a national holiday commemorating Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000. Lebanese leaders used the occasion to call for solidarity with communities affected by the continuing violence rather than celebrations.

The renewed warnings underscore the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the persistent security challenges along the Israel-Lebanon border, where military activity and civilian displacement remain ongoing concerns.