IDF Officer and Three Soldiers Killed in Northern Lebanon Clash

The Israeli military said four soldiers were killed overnight in a serious incident in Lebanon, including Lt. Col. Dor Gadalia Ben Shimhon, the commander of Battalion 52. The names of the other three fallen soldiers have not yet been released, though their families have been notified. The incident occurred near the village of Tabbnit, where a suspicious object hit a tank belonging to Battalion 52, which operates under the Givati Brigade combat team.

The IDF said the circumstances are still being investigated and that it cannot yet say definitively that the strike was caused by an explosive drone. Ben Shimhon had recently taken command of Battalion 52, replacing Lt. Col. A., who was seriously wounded in combat in southern Lebanon about three months ago. The tank strike killed Ben Shimhon and the three soldiers with him.

In response, the IDF launched broad attacks on Hezbollah infrastructure in Nabatieh and other areas in southern Lebanon. The military said it also struck terrorists and terror infrastructure in several locations during the night between Thursday and Friday and continued attacking targets in the morning. According to the IDF, the strikes were carried out in response to repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement by Hezbollah.

The Home Front Command told northern residents that there had been “serious violations of the ceasefire agreement” by Hezbollah overnight and that the IDF was required to respond “with strong force.” It said explosions may be heard across the north in the coming hours, but there is no change at this stage to civilian defense instructions, and all current exceptions for today remain in effect. Any further changes will be announced to the public.