The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed that two of its soldiers were killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon, as tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate.
In a statement posted on Telegram, the IDF identified one of the fallen soldiers as Master Sergeant Maher Khatar, 38, from Majdal Shams. According to the military, Khatar served in the Combat Engineering Corps and was killed during fighting in southern Lebanon.
The IDF added that the family of the second soldier has been notified, though his name has not yet been cleared for public release.
The deaths come amid heightened regional instability linked to the broader conflict involving Israel, Iran and allied forces across the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Iran has issued a warning to the United Kingdom regarding potential involvement in military operations against Tehran.
Speaking in a pre-recorded interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Iran’s ambassador to London, Seyed Ali Mousavi, said his country would consider invoking its “right to self-defence” if the UK were to directly participate in joint US-Israeli attacks on Iranian targets.
Mousavi urged the British government to exercise caution, warning that any deeper involvement could have serious consequences.
“We expect the British government, and others, to be very delicate, very careful in their actions,” the ambassador said.
The UK government has allowed the United States to use British military bases for what officials describe as defensive operations targeting Iranian facilities. However, London has stressed that it has not taken part in any direct strikes itself.
Mousavi welcomed that stance, saying it was “good” that the UK was not directly “involved with this aggression.”
He also suggested that British leaders may be drawing lessons from past military interventions, referencing the UK’s role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
“I believe they have learned lessons from Iraq,” he said.
The developments underscore the fragile security situation in the region, with clashes continuing along Israel’s northern border and diplomatic tensions rising between Iran and Western powers.
