Lebanese soldiers injured while Israeli troops intrude on southern town

Three Lebanese soldiers have been wounded while trying to defuse unexploded ordnance in the southern village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, the Lebanese army said.

Hours earlier on Saturday, the village mayor and Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) said Israeli troops had entered and built an earth barrier overnight.

Mayor Abed Ezzeddine told the AFP news agency that residents were surprised to see the barrier, around 100 metres from the village square. The village had been placed under the control of Lebanon's army as part of a June agreement with Israel.

A Lebanese military source called the move a violation of the framework accord, but the Israeli military told the AFP agency that it was "not aware of such an event in this area".

"An Israeli occupation army force advanced into the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah shortly after midnight ... and erected a new earthen barrier near the town square," NNA reported. An AFP correspondent confirmed seeing the barrier blocking a road at the eastern entrance.

The Lebanese army had deployed to Zawtar al-Gharbiyah on July 21 and around 50 families have since returned to the village, Mayor Ezzeddine said. Israeli troops were on the outskirts of the village before the deployment.

The village is one of two "pilot zones" where the Lebanese army is deploying under a US-sponsored framework agreement signed with Israel on June 26. It envisions a phased Israeli withdrawal in return for the disarmament of Hezbollah.

He added that Lebanon was holding firm on the ceasefire and pressing Israel to halt the destruction of border villages, while preparing for a new round of talks in September.

Lebanon and Israel concluded a seventh round of direct, US-mediated talks in Rome on Thursday. President Joseph Aoun said Beirut had made "positive progress" on border and prisoner issues.