Kathmandu— Three Lebanese soldiers were wounded while attempting to defuse unexploded ordnance in the southern village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah on Saturday, the Lebanese army announced. The incident follows reports that Israeli troops entered the village overnight to construct an earthen barrier near the town square, a move Lebanese officials claim violates a recent framework agreement.

Incursion and Barrier Construction

The village mayor, Abed Ezzeddine, told AFP that residents were surprised to find a new earthen barrier erected approximately 100 metres from the village square. The village had previously been placed under the control of the Lebanese army as part of a June agreement with Israel.

While a Lebanese military source characterized the construction as a violation of the framework accord, the Israeli military stated it was "not aware of such an event in this area."

Escalation Along the Border

The incursions and shelling have intensified across the frontier, affecting several towns. In the nearby town of Mansouri, Israeli artillery shelled the area on Saturday, leaving residents unable to return due to evacuation orders and intermittent gunfire. A bulldozer clearing roads in the area was also damaged by a bomb explosion on Friday.

Other reported incidents include Israeli bulldozing in Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh, drone strikes in Mayfadoun, and continued ground incursions in Kfar Shouba, Haddatha, and the Ali al-Taher area of Nabatieh al-Fawqa. These ongoing hostilities have rendered several villages along the line of contact, including Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Mansouri, uninhabitable.

Diplomatic Context and Framework Agreement

Zawtar al-Gharbiyah serves as one of two "pilot zones" where the Lebanese army is deploying under a US-sponsored framework agreement signed on June 26. This agreement envisions a phased Israeli withdrawal in exchange for the disarmament of Hezbollah.

Despite the recent violence, Lebanese officials noted that the country is holding firm on the ceasefire. President Joseph Aoun indicated that Beirut has made "positive progress" regarding border and prisoner issues following a seventh round of US-mediated talks in Rome on Thursday.

Lebanon is currently preparing for a new round of negotiations scheduled for September.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.