The Israeli Air Force launched an intense new wave of strikes against targets in southern Lebanon on Thursday, marking a significant escalation following the deaths of two reserve soldiers in a booby-trapped building and the continued deterioration of the June ceasefire, according to reporting from Srugim.
The strikes represent potentially the most intensive Israeli operations in Lebanon since the ceasefire was declared months earlier, according to Srugim's assessment. Combat aircraft conducted deep penetration strikes into Lebanese territory as the northern front entered what Israeli sources describe as a return to consistent daily combat operations.
The escalation comes directly after the IDF released the identities of the two soldiers killed in Wednesday's incident: Major (Res.) Harel Birenstock, 34, of Nokdim, and Sergeant Major (Res.) Tamir Vaknin, 33, of Eilat, both members of the 55th Paratroopers Brigade. The two soldiers were killed when an improvised explosive device detonated as they searched a building booby-trapped by Hezbollah in the village of Majdal Zoun. Four additional soldiers were seriously wounded in the incident.
