BEIRUT: Lebanon's army said a blast at a weapons depot near the Israeli border on Saturday killed six soldiers as a military source said troops were removing munitions from a facility. Under a truce that ended a recent war between Israel and Lebanese group Hezbollah, the army has been deploying in south Lebanon and dismantling the militant group's infrastructure there. An army statement gave a preliminary toll of six soldiers killed and others wounded "while an army unit was inspecting a weapons depot and dismantling its contents in Wadi Zibqin", in the Tyre district near the Israeli border. Investigations were underway to determine the cause of the blast, it added.
President Joseph Aoun said he was informed by army commander Rodolphe Haykal of the "painful incident" that led to troop casualties. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam paid tribute on X to the troops who were killed "while performing their national duty", calling the army the protector of Lebanon's "unity and its legitimate institutions". — AFP
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