Defense Minister Israel Katz eulogized Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, commander of the 52nd Battalion, and three soldiers killed in southern Lebanon. Katz said the IDF struck over 80 targets and killed dozens of operatives in response, and stressed that Israel will remain in the security zone and respond forcefully to any Hezbollah ceasefire violation.
The Zioneer reported earlier today that Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon and three soldiers of the 401st Armored Brigade's 52nd Battalion were killed overnight in southern Lebanon near the village of Tafnine, in what the IDF assessed was a Hezbollah drone strike on their tank. President Herzog and senior officials offered condolences Friday morning.
Defense Minister Katz's statement Friday afternoon formalized the government's response: the IDF conducted strikes on over 80 Hezbollah targets in the Bekaa Valley and Nabatieh, killing dozens of operatives. Katz framed the strikes as retaliation for the attack that killed the four soldiers, and reiterated that forces will remain in the southern Lebanon security zone to protect northern Israeli communities.
Katz's language — "every violation will be met with great force" — aligns with his earlier vow of a decisive response, which the Desk reported at 12:30 Jerusalem. The military response remains ongoing.
2 developments
- StrongNetanyahu, Katz define Hezbollah attacks on IDF troops in southern Lebanon as ceasefire violations, ordering massive strikes
- StrongFour IDF soldiers killed in Hezbollah attack; IDF retaliates with over 80 strikes across Lebanon
- StrongPresident Herzog: Four soldiers killed in Lebanon combat including 52nd Battalion commander
- DevelopingDefense Minister Katz: 'We will not leave a situation where our soldiers are harmed unilaterally'
Source and signal
- Internal intake