Two Lebanese soldiers killed in Israeli strike on southern Lebanon, army says

Cairo: Two Lebanese soldiers were killed and three others wounded in an Israeli strike on an army post in southern Lebanon on Friday, the army said.

The incident takes the number of Lebanese soliders killed on duty to five in addition to 16 killed off-duty, a security source told Reuters. There was no immediate comment from Israel on the latest report.

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the killings.

"This persistent Israeli crime against Lebanon did not spare today the brave soldiers who are carrying out their national duty in protecting the land and defending the people," he said in a statement.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah erupted one year ago when the Iranian-backed group began launching rockets at northern Israel in support of Hamas, the Palestinian organization that governs the Gaza Strip.

The Lebanese army has historically stayed out of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, focusing instead on maintaining order inside Lebanon.