- Four IDF soldiers, including a battalion commander, were killed in a Hezbollah attack in southern Lebanon.
- The slain officer is identified as Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, 32, the commander of the 401st Armored Brigade’s 52nd Battalion.
- The attack occurred in the village of Kfar Tebnit when a suspected drone or anti-tank missile struck the battalion commander’s tank.
- Israel’s military says it is attacking Hezbollah in several areas across southern Lebanon and has been striking throughout Thursday night.
- Talks set to take place on Friday between the US and Iran on implementing the 14-point agreement to end their war have been cancelled, Switzerland’s foreign ministry has announced.
Four Israeli Defense Forces soldiers, including tank battalion commander Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, were killed in a Hezbollah attack in southern Lebanon shortly after midnight. The attack involved a suspected drone or anti-tank missile that struck the commander’s tank in the village of Kfar Tebnit.1234
The IDF reported that five other soldiers were wounded in the incident. In response, Israel's military launched strikes against Hezbollah in multiple locations across southern Lebanon, targeting what they described as “Hezbollah terrorists and infrastructure sites.” These strikes were characterized as a reaction to “repeated violations of the ceasefire” by the Iran-backed group.5
The escalation comes amid heightened tensions, as talks between the US and Iran regarding a 14-point agreement aimed at ending their ongoing conflict were unexpectedly cancelled, according to Switzerland’s foreign ministry. This cancellation adds another layer of complexity to the already volatile situation in the region.
In a statement, Trump emphasized the need for a complete ceasefire across all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel, highlighting the international community's concern over the escalating violence.
“Four IDF soldiers, including Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, were killed in a Hezbollah attack in southern Lebanon. Concurrently, Israel is striking targets in Lebanon as US-Iran talks have been cancelled.”
The Guardian