Israeli forces carried out a strike in southern Lebanon that killed two Hezbollah operatives who had crossed a military boundary line and approached troops, the Israeli military said Wednesday, as tensions persist despite a fragile ceasefire.

According to the Israeli army, the two operatives were identified by soldiers from the 7th Armored Brigade near the Wadi Saluki stream after they crossed what the military described as a “forward defense line” and moved toward Israeli troops “in a manner that posed an immediate threat.” The Israeli Air Force then carried out a strike, “eliminating the terrorists to remove the threat,” the military said.

The Israeli army, however, denied conducting a separate strike reported earlier by Lebanese state media in the eastern Bekaa Valley. The reports said one person was killed and two others wounded in a drone strike overnight near al-Jabbour.

The developments come amid a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that took effect last Thursday under U.S. mediation. Despite the truce, Israeli forces remain deployed inside a strip of Lebanese territory extending roughly 5 to 10 kilometers along the border, which Israel says is intended as a buffer zone to protect northern communities.

Hezbollah said on Tuesday that it had launched rockets and drones toward northern Israel, accusing Israeli forces of violating the ceasefire through continued attacks on civilians and the destruction of homes in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military earlier said several rockets had been fired toward its troops operating in the Rab al-Thalathine area within the Israeli-held zone, calling it a “blatant violation” of the truce. It was not immediately clear whether both sides were referring to the same incident.

The Israeli army said it subsequently targeted the launcher used in the attack, while air raid sirens in northern Israel were likely triggered by the interception of a drone launched from Lebanon. The military did not clarify whether this corresponded to Hezbollah’s claim.

Again on Wednesday, the Israeli military said Hezbollah recently sent a drone toward its forces deployed in southern Lebanon. According to the military, Israeli air defense systems intercepted the aircraft before it could reach its target, and no casualties were reported.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the drone attack, saying it targeted an Israeli artillery site in the Ras al-Bayyada headland south of Tyre. 

On the ground, Israeli forces have continued demolition operations in southern Lebanese villages since the ceasefire, saying they are dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure embedded in civilian areas. Lebanese state media reported fresh explosions in at least eight villages on Tuesday, along with artillery shelling in several areas. Israeli troops also continue to carry out broader operations across the south, including strikes, demolitions, and ground movements in multiple locations.

Israeli airstrikes earlier targeted a car on the main road in the town of Tiri in the Bint Jbeil district, killing two people, according to reports. The strike occurred while several journalists were present at the scene; they were not harmed.

In the same district, Israeli forces took control of the football stadium in Bint Jbeil and raised the Israeli flag alongside that of the Givati Brigade, according to reports from the ground.

الجيش الاسرائيلي سيطر على ملعب بنت جبيل ورفع عليه العلم الاسرائيلي وعلم لواء جفعاتي pic.twitter.com/ZhcSBW4pwd

— kataeb.org (@kataeb_Ar) April 22, 2026

Artillery shelling also targeted residential neighborhoods in the Rass al-Dahr area west of Mays al-Jabal, accompanied by machine-gun fire sweeping nearby zones.

Israeli armoured patrols, supported by bulldozers, conducted road-clearing operations in the Saluki Valley.

In Ayta al-Shaab, Israeli forces demolished several homes and levelled remaining commercial shops along the main road.

Earlier at dawn, several houses in the coastal town of Bayyada were blown up, with powerful explosions heard across the city of Tyre.

In a separate incident, a drone strike targeted the outskirts of al-Jabbour in western Bekaa early in the morning, killing one person and injuring two others, according to reports.

Further south, artillery fire and machine-gun sweeping were reported around the towns of Shaqra and Houla, amid continued military pressure along the border region.

Meanwhile, Israeli drones were seen flying at low altitude over the Lebanese capital, Beirut, adding to ongoing tensions despite the fragile security situation.

The Israeli deployment line has become a focal point of the current standoff. Israeli officials previously referred to it as the “Yellow Line,” a term also used in Gaza, but have since shifted to describing it as a “forward defense line.” A military map published Sunday showed the line marked in red, alongside a “naval forward defense area” extending off Lebanon’s coast.

Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said on Wednesday that the military remains on high alert and prepared to resume full-scale combat if necessary. Speaking at an Independence Day ceremony, Zamir said the army has been working to rebuild its strength “since the inferno of October 7.”

“In Gaza, we prevailed in the fight against Hamas — and upheld the command: ‘We leave no one behind,’” he said. “At this very moment, we are conducting intense fighting in Lebanon to strengthen the defense of the northern communities.”

Zamir also referenced ongoing confrontation with Iran, citing both the June 2025 war and the more recent 40-day conflict.

“At this time, the Israeli army maintains high alertness and readiness, prepared to return immediately and forcefully to combat in all sectors,” he said.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are continuing as the United States is set to host a second round of ambassador-level talks between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, following rare high-level contacts earlier this month in Washington.