• Six Lebanese soldiers died in an explosion at a Hezbollah weapons depot in southern Lebanon.
• The soldiers were engaged in dismantling munitions left over from recent conflicts.
• This incident highlights ongoing tensions between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government regarding disarmament.

Six Lebanese soldiers were killed on Saturday in an explosion while they were inspecting a weapons depot near the Israeli border, near Majdal Zoun, as part of their duties dismantling Hezbollah's military infrastructure. The Lebanese army stated that the troops were at the site to remove munitions and unexploded ordnance when the explosion occurred, resulting in multiple injuries as well, though the total number is not yet confirmed, according to Al Jazeera and Dawn.

The blast was part of ongoing military efforts by the Lebanese army to dismantle Hezbollah's infrastructure under a ceasefire agreement established after the conflict that escalated in 2023. This deadly incident underscores the serious risks associated with unexploded munitions from previous military actions, especially after several tragic incidents involving similar explosives in the past, according to TRT World and India Times.

As part of the examination and clearing process, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, reported discovering a network of fortified tunnels in the same area, which complicates the situation further. Major General Diodato Abagnara stated that these soldiers were "simply doing their job to restore stability and avoid a return to open conflict," reflecting the challenging environment they operate in, according to Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.

President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers. The government has placed the responsibility of formulating a disarmament plan on the military, which it hopes to accomplish by year's end. However, Hezbollah has voiced strong opposition to disarmament, complicating the dynamics further amid regional pressures, according to India Times, Dawn, and Channel News Asia.