Two Israeli Reservists Killed by Bomb in South Lebanon During IDF Operation

Two Israeli reservists, Lt. Col. Harel Birnstok and Combat Medic Staff Sergeant Tamir Vaknin, were killed on Wednesday by an explosive device in the village of Majdal Zun in the Israeli-controlled area of southern Lebanon. Birnstok, 34, from Nokdim, left behind a wife, four children, parents, and siblings, while Vaknin, 33, from Eilat, is survived by his parents and two brothers. Four other reservists from the 2855th Battalion of the 55th Paratroopers Brigade were wounded and evacuated to Rambam Hospital in Haifa.

Birnstok, an engineer at Elbit Systems, was praised by close friend Michael Tomer for his dedication to both family and military reserve service. Tomer recalled Birnstok’s commitment to the reserves and his charitable efforts, including raising 30,000 shekels for the "Shalva" association and running the New York Marathon. Regional Council Head Yaron Rosenthal expressed condolences to Birnstok’s family and the paratroopers brigade.

Vaknin’s brother Yoav described him as the heart of his unit, always caring for family and friends. Despite challenges balancing work and reserve duties, Vaknin felt compelled to serve continuously since October 7. Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri mourned Vaknin as a hometown hero and extended support to his family. A military funeral for Vaknin was scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the military section of Eilat Cemetery.

The incident occurred around noon during a prolonged operation to clear the village of explosives. Initial reports indicated a bulldozer triggered a mine, but the force was later scanning a booby-trapped building. The IDF responded with strikes on Hezbollah terror infrastructure in southern Lebanon, targeting weapons caches and operational apartments, citing a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire by Hezbollah. The military is investigating whether the bomb was planted before or after the ceasefire and if Hezbollah knowingly detonated it near IDF forces. The IDF holds Hezbollah responsible for violating the ceasefire by allowing civilians to return to the village, though no official government statement has been issued on the ceasefire breach.