Israeli tank hit in Lebanon, four soldiers killed

Israel announced four soldiers, including a battalion commander, were killed after a tank was attacked by Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that a drone or anti-tank missile from the Hezbollah armed group struck an Israeli tank in Kfar Tebnit village, southern Lebanon, this morning.

The subsequent explosion killed all four crew members, including Lieutenant Colonel Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, commander of the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Armored Brigade. Simhon had taken over the position after his predecessor was severely injured in southern Lebanon in April.

A moment believed to show an Israeli vehicle hit by a Hezbollah anti-tank missile in southern Lebanon in a video posted on 19/6. Video: X/MenchOsint

The IDF stated that the identities of the three remaining soldiers would be released later and that an investigation into the cause of the explosion is underway.

Hours after the tank attack, Hezbollah launched suicide drones targeting forces from the Israeli Commando Brigade in Kfar Tebnit, injuring 5 soldiers, one seriously. The soldiers were transported to a hospital for treatment.

The Lebanese armed group also claimed on the same day that it had targeted three Israeli Merkava main battle tanks with guided missiles, "destroying and setting them ablaze".

According to Hezbollah, the incident occurred after an Israeli armored platoon and an infantry platoon attempted to infiltrate the northern side of the Ali al-Taher hills, a strategic location overlooking the important city of Nabatieh. Kfar Tebnit village is located about 4 km southeast of Nabatieh.

"Fighting continues," Hezbollah stated.

An Israeli Merkava tank moving into position in southern Lebanon on 27/3. Photo: AFP

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir declared that "all of Lebanon must burn" after the IDF announced the incident. He emphasized, "With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our children and the security of our citizens are not bargaining chips."

This marks the first time the IDF has sustained fatalities since the US and Iran signed a memorandum asserting that Israel must cease its offensive operations in Lebanon as part of a ceasefire with Iran. Despite this, the Israeli army stated on 18/6 that it would continue operations in southern Lebanon regardless of the US-Iran agreement.

Lebanese state media reported that Israeli overnight attacks had killed 16 people in the Nabatieh region. The IDF stated it had conducted strikes across southern Lebanon in response to Hezbollah's "continuous violations of the ceasefire agreement".

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East conflict on 2/3, when the Hezbollah armed group fired rockets into Israeli territory to retaliate for the alleged assassination of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei during a US-Israel airstrike.

Israel responded by conducting airstrikes across Lebanon and deploying troops into the neighboring country's south.