Four soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were killed during fighting in southern Lebanon in a Hezbollah drone strike that hit a tank, the Israeli army reported on Friday
One of the dead was identified as Lieutenant Colonel Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, 32, from the kibbutz Beit HaShita.
He commanded the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Brigade “Iron Trails” and had assumed the position just two months ago after his predecessor was seriously wounded.
Ben Simhon leaves behind a wife and two daughters.
The names of the other three soldiers have not yet been released, but their families have been informed.
According to initial reports, the attack occurred in the Kfar Tebnit region when an explosive drone struck the battalion commander’s tank.
The incident represents a significant escalation on the northern border and highlights persistent tensions, even with the existing ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
Israeli military sources consider this one of Hezbollah’s most serious violations of the truce agreement in recent months.
In response, Israel has carried out intense attacks against the group’s positions and infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
In a separate drone strike, a reserve officer was seriously injured and three soldiers suffered minor injuries.
The Israeli army stated that Hezbollah continues to carry out terrorist attacks against its forces and does not respect the ceasefire, seeking only to generate instability in the region.
Lieutenant Colonel Ben Simhon is the latest senior Israeli officer to fall in operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
More information is expected to be released as the army makes it available.
Published in 06/19/2026 14h50
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
Reference article: