Deir Mimas Standoff, Hospital Fire and Wider Military Activity

Southern Lebanon developments on September 18 included a direct standoff between Lebanese and Israeli forces near Deir Mimas, a fire at the government hospital in Meiss El Jabal and Israeli military activity reported across a broad range of southern towns.

Field information obtained by Profile News recorded an airstrike, artillery shelling, explosions and stun grenades on Thursday, September 18, as diplomatic efforts continued over the Lebanese Army’s role and future security arrangements in the south.

Southern Lebanon Developments on September 18 Begin With Deir Mimas

The Lebanese Army said an Israeli force approached one of its positions near Deir Mimas and threw stun grenades in the surrounding area, leading to a period of heightened alert.

According to the Army, contacts through the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon, or MCG4L, eventually led to the Israeli force withdrawing and Lebanese soldiers returning to their position.

AFP images from the area showed Israeli military vehicles and tanks advancing toward the vicinity while Lebanese troops deployed near the town.

Profile News had reported a day earlier on the Paris talks on support for the Lebanese Army and post-UNIFIL security arrangements.

Lebanese Health Ministry Says Meiss El Jabal Hospital Was Burned

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Israeli forces set fire to the government hospital in Meiss El Jabal and that the facility was completely damaged by the blaze.

The ministry said the hospital had been renovated and equipped after earlier damage in an effort to restore medical services for residents and displaced people in border areas.

According to the ministry, Israeli forces had previously used the hospital as a military position.

The ministry described attacks on medical facilities as war crimes and violations of international law. That characterization is attributed to the Lebanese Health Ministry and is not presented as an independent judicial finding.

No specific official Israeli response addressing the allegation that its forces burned the hospital had been located at the time of publication.

September 18 Field Summary: Airstrike, Shelling and Explosions

According to field information obtained by Profile News, Israeli military activity recorded across southern Lebanon on September 18 included:

• Airstrike: Mansouri.
• Artillery shelling: Sarbin, Ali al-Taher, Haddatha, Wadi Zibqin, Kfar Tebnit, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, al-Qusayr, Zawtar al-Sharqiya, Qantara, Bani Hayyan and Haris.
• Explosions: the area between Baraachit and Kounine, Mansouri, Meiss El Jabal, al-Bayyada and Khiam.
• Stun grenades: Haris, Yater and Deir Mimas in the direction of a Lebanese Army position.

The field summary indicates that military activity extended across several parts of southern Lebanon rather than remaining concentrated along a single border sector.

Deir Mimas Puts the Lebanese Army at the Center of Events

The Deir Mimas incident was significant because Israeli troops came into direct proximity with a Lebanese Army position, rather than the episode being limited to long-range shelling or an airstrike.

The encounter came one day after international talks in Paris focused on strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces and examining security arrangements for the period after UNIFIL begins drawing down.

Security Negotiations Face a Difficult Ground Reality

The September 18 developments came as U.S.-backed security discussions between Lebanon and Israel continued, with issues including Lebanese Army deployment, Israeli withdrawal and mechanisms intended to stabilize the south.

Profile News has previously covered Lebanon-Israel security arrangements and President Joseph Aoun’s position.

The events of September 18 illustrate how diplomatic discussions over long-term security arrangements continue to unfold alongside military activity on the ground.

Report Sources: Profile News, Profile News field information in southern Lebanon, Lebanese Army, Al Hadath, LBCI.