Israel said two of its soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, while Lebanese ​authorities said Israeli retaliatory attacks killed at least one person, a ‌flare-up in violence that coincided with the latest round of talks between the two countries.

The Rome talks, which began on Tuesday and are expected to continue through Thursday, come after ​the two countries agreed in June to a US-brokered security arrangement ​intended to ease hostilities along the border.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel ⁠declared a buffer zone in southern Lebanon where its troops continue to operate ​to eliminate what it says is the threat of the Iran-backed group, Hezbollah, on ​its border.

The two soldiers were killed and four others wounded by an explosion in a building they had entered as part of a security sweep, according to Israel’s Army Radio ​on Thursday.

Citing a security source, Army Radio said that it was still ​unclear when the explosive device had been planted in the building, whether it was before ‌or after ⁠the ceasefire.

The Israeli military on Wednesday initially described the incident as “a blatant ceasefire violation” by Hezbollah, for which it launched a series of strikes in southern Lebanon.

But on Thursday, in a statement mourning the death of the ​soldiers, Israeli Defence Minister ​Israel Katz did ⁠not mention Hezbollah or a ceasefire violation, suggesting Israel was not looking to escalate attacks.

The Israeli military’s website shows the ​last date a soldier was killed in southern Lebanon was ​June 28.

⁠The Lebanese health ministry said on Wednesday one person was killed and 12 others were wounded in an Israeli strike on the southern town of Tibnin, about 25 ⁠km (15 ​miles) from Mansouri, for which the Israeli military ​had issued an evacuation warning - the first online warning for Lebanon in more than a month.