Blast at Hezbollah site kills five Lebanese troops

Five members of the Lebanese army were killed on Saturday when an explosion struck a Hezbollah military site in southern Lebanon.

According to a military source speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, the blast occurred as troops were clearing munitions and unexploded ordnance left behind from the recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The source indicated that the soldiers were working inside the facility at the time of the incident.

Official Response and Circumstances of the Explosion

While the Lebanese army has yet to release an official statement, President Joseph Aoun confirmed that he had spoken with army commander Rodolphe Haykal regarding what he described as a “painful incident.” In a statement from the presidency, Aoun explained that an engineering unit had been engaged in the removal and neutralization of ordnance when the munitions unexpectedly detonated, resulting in multiple casualties among the soldiers. The explosion underscores the ongoing dangers posed by remnants of war in the region, even after active fighting subsides.