The IDF says four soldiers were killed in intense combat in the village of Kfar Tibnit, southern Lebanon, including a lieutenant colonel serving as deputy commander of the 52nd Battalion, 401st Armored Brigade. The military has not released further details. The announcement comes hours after the IDF named Lt. Col. Dor Ben Simhon, commander of the same battalion, among four killed overnight by a Hezbollah drone strike on a tank.
The IDF announced Friday afternoon that four of its soldiers were killed in heavy fighting in the village of Kfar Tibnit, southern Lebanon. Among the fallen is a lieutenant colonel who served as deputy commander of the 52nd Battalion in the 401st Armored Brigade, according to the military statement. No further details on the circumstances of the incident or the identities of the other three soldiers have been released.
The announcement comes on a day of intense losses for the 52nd Battalion. Earlier Friday, the IDF named Lt. Col. Dor Ben Simhon, the battalion commander, as one of four soldiers killed overnight by a Hezbollah explosive drone strike on a tank near the village of Tafnine. President Isaac Herzog confirmed Ben Simhon's death earlier in the day, noting he took command after his predecessor was severely wounded.
The fighting in southern Lebanon has exacted a heavy toll on Israeli forces since the resumption of ground operations in early March. As The Zioneer reported, the IDF has acknowledged 30 soldiers killed and over 1,300 wounded in Lebanon since March 2. The battles around Kfar Tibnit and adjacent villages have seen repeated Hezbollah drone and IED attacks on Israeli armor and infantry patrols. The toll of this single Friday now includes at least eight soldiers killed in the 401st Armored Brigade alone, pending official confirmation of the full chain of events.
3 developments
- StrongIDF says it eliminated dozens of Hezbollah operatives in over 100 strikes, accuses Hezbollah of ceasefire violations
- DevelopingHezbollah claims anti-tank missile fire at IDF tanks above Nabatieh
- StrongHezbollah footage claims to show anti-tank missile strike on IDF tank that killed four soldiers
- StrongNetanyahu, Katz define Hezbollah attacks on IDF troops in southern Lebanon as ceasefire violations, ordering massive strikes
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
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