Israel reports troop deaths as Lebanon talks underway in Rome

JERUSALEM: Israel reported on Thursday (Aug 6) its first military fatalities in southern Lebanon in more than a month, after carrying out fresh strikes despite ongoing US-backed talks in Rome aimed at ending hostilities.The military identified the two reservists, who were killed in combat on Wednesday, as Major Harel Birenstock, 34, and Sergeant Major Tamir Vaknin, 33, of the 2855th Battalion, 55th Brigade.The deaths were the first Israeli fatalities reported in southern Lebanon since Jun 28.The Israeli strikes, accompanied by the first evacuation warning in weeks, came as the United States led diplomacy between Israel and Lebanon in Rome aimed at putting an end to hostilities, with Beirut seeking Israel's phased withdrawal from the south. "In response to a blatant violation of the ceasefi