BEIRUT / Naeem Barjawi / Anadolu

Two paramedics from the Lebanese Red Cross were injured Tuesday by a landmine explosion while carrying out a humanitarian mission in the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiya in southern Lebanon, and an ambulance was severely damaged.

The Lebanese Red Cross said in a statement that one of its ambulances was hit by a landmine explosion in Zawtar al-Sharqiya while carrying out a humanitarian mission to search for a missing person, resulting in injuries to two paramedics and severe damage to the vehicle.

It added that the mission was carried out after completing necessary coordination procedures with relevant authorities to ensure safe access to the area.

It explained that its teams are working in coordination with the Engineering Regiment of the Lebanese Army and competent authorities to secure the area, after it was found to contain mines and unexploded ordnance, to allow safe access to the paramedics and their evacuation.

Zawtar al-Sharqiya town in the Nabatieh district neighbors Zawtar al-Gharbiya, where the Lebanese Army earlier Tuesday announced the start of deploying its military units after the Israeli army withdrew from it.

These two towns are located north of the Litani River and are among the pilot areas covered by the first phase of the 'framework formula' signed on June 26 last year between Lebanon and Israel.

The agreement stipulates a gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory, starting with a model implementation in pilot areas, with the Lebanese Army assuming security responsibility in areas from which Israeli forces withdraw, along with disarmament of armed groups, in reference to Hezbollah.

Since March 2, 2026, Israel has continued its aggression on Lebanon, resulting in 4,328 deaths and 12,230 injuries, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades, others since the confrontations between 2023 and 2024, and has advanced more than 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory during the current aggression.