Israel kills three in Lebanon amid Washington talks on territorial handover

What happened

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reports three people were killed and one wounded when an Israeli attack targeted a car on the road between Zawtar and Mayfadoun in Nabatieh Governorate on Thursday. The strike comes amid ongoing talks in Washington involving Israeli and Lebanese officials focusing on a possible handover of territory occupied during recent fighting.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. Al Jazeera’s correspondent in southern Lebanon, Zeina Khodr, described the ceasefire as fragile, noting continued Israeli military actions targeting frontline villages near Nabatieh, including drone strikes and stun grenade use. These operations appear aimed at controlling territory Israel could not occupy in previous fighting, potentially to strengthen its position in negotiations.

The US-backed talks, entering a final day in Washington, aim to resolve the status of territory taken by Israeli forces during clashes with Hezbollah since March 2. A US State Department official told Reuters that Israel took a “concrete step” by pulling back from part of a buffer zone, but Israeli officials simultaneously reiterated conditions for a full withdrawal tied to the disarming of Hezbollah.

Known from the source

• Lebanon’s National News Agency reports three killed and one wounded in an Israeli strike on a car in Nabatieh on June 25, 2026.
• Israeli forces reportedly burned houses in Ain Arab after evacuation warnings.
• Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health reports over 4,230 killed and 12,179 wounded since March 2 conflict onset.
• Israeli and Lebanese officials are conducting US-backed talks in Washington focused on possible territory handover.
• A US official confirmed Israel pulled back from part of a southern Lebanon buffer zone.

What remains unclear

Israel’s government spokesman David Mencer emphasized that Israeli forces would not withdraw as long as Hezbollah remains armed and active, a stance echoed by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz who reaffirmed the military presence in so-called security zones across Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. Conversely, a senior Lebanese military official indicated recent developments show no Israeli pullback on the ground.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verify casualty figures from the Israeli strike in Nabatieh independently of the Lebanese national agency. Confirm specifics of territory Israel is willing or unwilling to withdraw from, and exact terms under discussion in Washington. Validate claims regarding Israeli military activities in frontline villages and burning of houses in Ain Arab.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: Al Jazeera Lebanon. Open the source.