The IDF announced on Thursday that two reserve soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon after an explosive device detonated as they entered a booby-trapped building in Majdal Zoun, causing the structure to collapse. The incident, the first Israeli military fatalities since the June truce with Hezbollah, also left four reservists seriously wounded.
Two IDF reserve soldiers were killed on Wednesday during an operational mission in southern Lebanon when a Hezbollah-planted explosive device detonated as they entered a booby-trapped home in the village of Majdal Zoun, causing the building to collapse. The IDF announced the names of the fallen on Thursday morning: Maj. (res.) Harel Birenstock, 34, a company commander from Nokdim, and Sgt. Maj. (res.) Tamir Vaknin, 33, a combat soldier from Eilat, both serving in the 2855th Battalion, 55th Paratroopers Reserve Brigade.
Four additional reservists were seriously wounded in the incident and evacuated for medical treatment. The deaths mark the first Israeli military fatalities since the June truce with Hezbollah, which ended large-scale hostilities but left the security situation on the ground volatile.
Following the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz convened a high-level security meeting on Wednesday night, which included IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, to discuss the military's response. The IDF has reportedly sought approval for a sensitive operation requiring political authorization.
11 developments
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- StrongDefense Minister Katz sends condolences to family of fallen reservist Filin
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