TEL AVIV — The Israeli army said on Thursday that one of its soldiers was killed and three others wounded in southern Lebanon as Tel Aviv continues to attack southern Lebanese towns despite a framework deal with Beirut.“Captain Eliav Haim Tzapalamus, aged 21, from Haifa, a combat officer in the 603rd Battalion, 7th Brigade, fell in combat in southern Lebanon,” the IDF said.The casualties occurred when an IDF Humvee overturned during operational activity in southern Lebanon, the Israeli army said. An investigation was launched into the incident.The IDF said the wounded soldiers were evacuated to a hospital, and their families had been notified.Tzapalamus is the 17th Israeli soldier to be killed since a ceasefire was reached in June between Israel and Hezbollah.Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a framework deal that involves the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region.On Thursday, visiting EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told AFP in Beirut that the bloc favored avoiding a security vacuum and extending a UN peacekeeping mandate in south Lebanon.The EU’s top diplomat also said that the bloc would soon be launching a training mission for the under-resourced Lebanese army.Israel has continued attacks on Lebanon since March 2, killing more than 4,380 victims and injuring over 12,410, according to Lebanese authorities.Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a US-sponsored framework agreement on June 26 in Washington providing for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the deployment of the Lebanese army in areas vacated by Israeli forces.Israel has continued attacks on southern Lebanon despite the agreement, and remains in control of areas in Lebanese territory, some occupied for decades and others seized during more recent wars and military operations.Meanwhile, the Israeli army fired an artillery shell toward the outskirts of a village in Syria’s southern Quneitra province Thursday, Syrian media reported.State-run Alikhbariah TV said Israeli forces targeted the vicinity of Sweisa village in the southern Quneitra countryside.No casualties or damage were immediately reported.The shelling came amid continued Israeli military incursions and attacks in southern Syria.Earlier Thursday, Israeli forces advanced into the village of Al-Samdaniya Al-Sharqiya in Quneitra province with two tanks and more than 15 military vehicles carrying soldiers, Alikhbariah TV reported.The forces moved toward the outskirts of Tal Krum, the broadcaster said.Late Wednesday, Israeli artillery also struck agricultural areas surrounding Al-Samdaniya Al-Sharqiya village, with no casualties reported, according to Alikhbariah TV.Southern Syria, particularly Quneitra and Daraa provinces, has witnessed repeated Israeli incursions and attacks, including raids, searches, arrests and the establishment of military checkpoints.
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