A report published by The Zioneer on Wednesday evening states that Maj. Harel Birnstok was killed in Lebanon. The IDF has not yet officially commented on the incident.
The Zioneer reports that Maj. Harel Birnstok, 34, from Nokdim in the Gush Etzion region, was killed in Lebanon on Wednesday evening. The Gush Etzion Regional Council confirmed his death, identifying him as a company commander in Battalion 2855. He fell alongside Master Sgt. Tamir Vaknin, a combat medic, with four other soldiers wounded in the same incident. The IDF has not yet officially cleared the names for publication, with a military announcement expected Thursday at 06:00 Jerusalem.
Earlier Wednesday evening, The Zioneer reported that two IDF soldiers had been killed and four wounded during operational activity in Lebanon. Subsequent reports identified the fallen as Birnstok and Vaknin, with the Gush Etzion council providing the first local confirmation. The IDF has not yet released the circumstances of the incident or officially confirmed the identities.
The incident adds to a series of IDF casualties in southern Lebanon. As The Zioneer reported on June 20, five soldiers were killed and 13 wounded in two separate incidents, including a tank engagement that claimed a battalion commander. On June 18, a soldier was killed by a Hezbollah improvised explosive device during a patrol in the Litani area. The IDF continues operations against Hezbollah in the region.
The exact circumstances of Wednesday's incident remain unclear, and the IDF's official announcement is pending. The military has not yet stated whether the incident involved Hezbollah fire or other causes.
4 developments
- StrongIDF says one soldier killed, seven wounded by Hezbollah IED in southern Lebanon; Filin named, injuries detailed
- DevelopingTwo IDF Soldiers Killed, Four Wounded in Southern Lebanon Incidents
- StrongIDF names two soldiers killed in separate southern Lebanon operations Saturday
- ConfirmedIDF names Maglan soldier killed, 13 wounded in Hezbollah strike on Ali Taher ridge
Source and signal
- Open-source intake