The military identified the soldier as Capt. Eitan Itzhak Oster, 22, from central Israel, but did not specify where he was killed.

The Israeli military said on Wednesday that regular infantry and armoured units were joining ground operations in southern Lebanon, but said they would remain limited and localised in scope. Israel said on Tuesday that commando and paratroop units had crossed a short distance over the border in the first publicly announced ground operation in Lebanon.

Israeli military announces its first combat death after incursions into Lebanon.