Israeli forces resumed military operations in southern Lebanon, allegedly against the Iran-backed terrorist organization Hezbollah, on Thursday after minimal progress in talks with the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced two of its soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon, and four other injured, by an explosive device. United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk criticized Israel for destroying towns in southern Lebanon, a step Israel said was necessary because Hezbollah used those buildings as cover for its activities. The seventh round of U.S.-sponsored talks between Lebanon and Israel took place in Rome, Italy, from Tuesday through Thursday this week. Salam criticized Hezbollah for dragging Lebanon into war against Israel in March, without calling the Iranian terror proxy out by name.