The IDF's preliminary investigation has determined that an explosive drone struck the tank of the 52nd Battalion commander in southern Lebanon on Friday, ruling out an ammunition malfunction or anti-tank missile. The finding was released Sunday evening as the incident remains under investigation.
The IDF announced Sunday evening (20:46 Jerusalem) that a preliminary investigation into the tank incident in southern Lebanon on Friday (June 19) has determined that an explosive drone struck the Merkava IV tank carrying the 52nd Battalion commander and three soldiers. The finding, released in a military statement, rules out an internal ammunition explosion or a Hezbollah anti-tank guided missile as the cause. The military later formally notified the families that the drone was a Hezbollah FPV explosive drone, as The Zioneer reported at 20:46 Jerusalem — the same time the investigation findings were published.
killed in the incident were Lt.-Col. Dor Gedalia Ben-Simhon, commander of the 52nd Battalion, and three soldiers: Staff Sgt. Naveh Havshush, Staff Sgt. Yoav Klein, and Staff Sgt. Liav Kababia. A fifth soldier's name was released earlier Sunday (07:50 Jerusalem). The tank and bodies were initially reported unrecovered in earlier reporting; the current investigation status does not address recovery.
This incident is at least the third drone-related casualty event among IDF personnel in southern Lebanon in June, as The Zioneer reported on June 17, following a separate June 7 event where four reserve soldiers were moderately wounded by an explosive drone. The investigation continues into the sequence of events and how the drone caused such severe casualties, as The Zioneer reported at 20:46 Jerusalem.
It remains unclear whether the drone struck the tank itself or detonated ammunition inside the vehicle, and recovery of the tank and bodies has not been addressed in the current investigation status.
8 developments
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- StrongIDF names fourth soldier killed alongside 52nd Battalion commander in southern Lebanon
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