The IDF cleared for publication that Staff Sgt. Nir Ben Ari, a Maglan fighter, was killed overnight Saturday in a combined Hezbollah attack on Israeli forces near Kfar Tebnit and the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah struck with dozens of rockets, mortar shells, and explosive drones; 13 soldiers were wounded — two seriously, one moderately, and 10 lightly.
The IDF cleared for publication Saturday evening that Staff Sgt. Nir Ben Ari, a Maglan commando, was killed and 13 soldiers were wounded in a combined Hezbollah attack on Israeli forces near the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. The attack, around 01:30 Saturday, involved dozens of rockets, mortar shells, and explosive drones, hitting troops operating to take control of the ridge near Kfar Tebnit. Two soldiers were seriously wounded, one moderately, and 10 lightly.
This development follows a series of deadly incidents on the same ridge reported by The Zioneer. On Friday, four IDF soldiers, including Battalion 52 commander Lt. Col. Dor Gadelia Ben Shimon, were killed in a tank-related event during an operation to seize a Hezbollah tunnel network; Hezbollah fired 147 rockets, 20 drones, and 9 anti-tank missiles at Israeli forces that day. The initial report of Ben Ari's death came via journalist Amit Segal (N12) at 20:44, naming only the first name 'Nir'; within the same minute, the IDF cleared the full name and unit, and the full casualty toll was confirmed through multiple newsroom reports.
As The Zioneer reported earlier on Friday, the Ali Taher ridge has been a focal point of intensified ground operations, with Hezbollah maintaining a major underground base there. A separate background report from Lebanese sources on Saturday morning described Israeli strikes on the ridge, claiming five killed, though combatant status remains unverified.
The IDF has not provided further detail on the tactical circumstances of the combined attack or whether Hezbollah's use of explosive drones alongside rocket fire represents a new pattern in the ridge fighting. Civil-defense restrictions remain unchanged until Sunday, June 21, at 20:00, per the Home Front Command.
5 developments
- StrongLebanese sources: Five killed in Israeli strike on south Lebanon's Ali Taher ridge
- StrongIDF announces soldier from Maglan unit killed in southern Lebanon
- Developing4 IDF soldiers killed in Hezbollah tunnel-ambush in south Lebanon; 147 rockets fired at Israeli troops
- StrongIDF says one soldier killed, seven wounded by Hezbollah IED in southern Lebanon; Filin named, injuries detailed
Source and signal
- Internal intake