A Lebanese soldier was killed in southern Lebanon as officials accused Israeli forces of destroying schools despite the ceasefire.
Key Developments
- A Lebanese soldier was killed and two others injured in an explosion in Mansouri, southern Lebanon.
- The Lebanese Army said the blast occurred when a suspicious object exploded near an army vehicle.
- Lebanon’s education minister accused Israeli forces of looting and demolishing three schools.
Soldier Killed in Southern Blast
A Lebanese soldier was killed and two others wounded on Saturday in an explosion in southern Lebanon, as Lebanese officials accused Israeli forces of looting and demolishing three schools in areas affected by continued Israeli military operations despite the ceasefire.
The Lebanese Army Command announced that one soldier was killed while an officer and another soldier were injured after a suspicious object exploded near an army vehicle in the town of Mansouri, in the Tyre district.
In a statement, the Army said the explosion occurred while the military vehicle was operating in the area.
Authorities said an investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Islamic Institution for Education and Teaching said that despite the declared ceasefire, Israeli occupation forces demolished the Al Mahdi High School building in the southern Lebanese city of Bint Jbeil.
The institution added that the targeting of an educational edifice is… pic.twitter.com/dAYfaCSyIk
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 18, 2026
Schools Looted, then Destroyed
Separately, Lebanese Education and Higher Education Minister Rima Karami accused Israeli forces of looting and demolishing three schools in southern Lebanon.
According to Karami, Israeli troops entered the schools, removed their contents, planted explosives inside the buildings, and then detonated them.
“The Israeli army looted the contents of these institutions, and then surrounded them with explosives, turning them into piles of ashes,” she said.
The minister said two of the destroyed schools were located in Khiam, while the third was in Bint Jbeil.
She added that the schools join a growing list of educational institutions damaged or destroyed during Israel’s ongoing military operations in southern Lebanon.
Calls for International Action
Karami stressed that schools enjoy special protection under international humanitarian law, alongside hospitals, educational centers, and sports facilities, particularly because they often serve as shelters during armed conflicts and emergencies.
She called on the international community to pressure Israel to halt attacks on civilian infrastructure and ensure that educational institutions remain protected during hostilities.
تنعى قيادة الجيش – مديرية التوجيه، الرقيب الأول أحمد سامي خليل الذي استشهد بتاريخ ١٨ / ٧ / ٢٠٢٦ جرّاء انفجار جسم مشبوه بآلية للجيش في بلدة المنصوري – صور.
وفي ما يلي نبذة عن حياة الشهيد:
• من مواليد ١٧ / ٨ / ١٩٨٩ فرون – بنت جبيل.
• حائز عدة أوسمة وتنويه العماد قائد الجيش… pic.twitter.com/0WlPk9iOuo— الجيش اللبناني (@LebarmyOfficial) July 18, 2026
The Islamic Institution for Education and Teaching also condemned the destruction of Al Mahdi High School in Bint Jbeil, describing the demolition as a crime committed despite the declared ceasefire.
In a statement, the organization said targeting educational institutions constitutes “a full-fledged crime” and an attempt to deprive future generations of their right to education.
The latest incidents come amid continued reports of Israeli ceasefire violations in southern Lebanon, where attacks on civilian infrastructure have persisted despite the truce agreement.
(PC, Al Mayadeen, NNA)
