The Israeli army, via its Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee, has defended its attack on a Lebanese army four-wheel-drive vehicle in southern Lebanon, which killed two officers and one soldier, Al Jazeera reports.

Adraee claimed that the vehicle was “moving suspiciously” in an “active combat zone” that had been evacuated, referring to forced displacement orders issued earlier. However, he added that the incident was under investigation.

“Following the identification of the vehicle, and based on the warning information and the danger it posed to the troops, it was targeted,” the military spokesperson added.

He emphasised that the Israeli troops operate against Hezbollah and not against the Lebanese army.