Two Israeli Reservists Killed by Explosive in South Lebanon, IDF Blames Hezbollah

Two Israeli reservists, Major Harel Birnstok (34) from Nokdim and Staff Sergeant Tamir Vaknin (33) from Eilat, both from the 2855th Battalion of the 55th Paratroopers Brigade, were killed on Wednesday by an explosive device in the village of Majdal Zun in southern Lebanon, the IDF spokesperson confirmed on Thursday morning. Birnstok was the commander of Company A, and Vaknin served as a combat medic. Four other soldiers were seriously injured in the blast and were evacuated to Rambam Hospital in Haifa.

The incident occurred around noon during an ongoing operational effort to clear the village, which has been underway for months. Initial reports indicated a bulldozer triggered the explosive, but later it was found that the unit was scanning a booby-trapped building. Majdal Zun lies in the western sector of the security zone, south of the Blue Line, in an area controlled by the IDF.

The IDF accused Hezbollah of a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire agreement, as the organization allegedly allowed residents to return to the village contrary to the accord. The military launched a series of retaliatory strikes overnight targeting Hezbollah weapon storage sites and operational apartments in the area, including the nearby village of Al-Mansouri. The IDF spokesperson in Arabic issued an urgent evacuation warning to local residents, stating Hezbollah's breach forced Israel to respond forcefully.

Investigations are ongoing to determine whether the explosive was planted before or after the ceasefire took effect, and if Hezbollah militants knowingly detonated it while Israeli forces were present. Despite the IDF's strong military response, political leadership, including Defense Minister and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have not issued an official statement declaring a ceasefire violation. Local officials, such as Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri, mourned Vaknin's death, highlighting his roots and heroism.

The area of Majdal Zun was previously found by the IDF to contain a large underground infrastructure and a drone base used by Hezbollah, known as "The Fortress," with Iranian drones and explosives. The clearance operation continues as Israeli forces seek additional weapons caches and aim to secure the zone.