Two IDF reservists were killed and four others were seriously wounded when a powerful explosive device detonated inside a building in the southern Lebanese village of Majdal Zoun, the military announced Thursday morning.
The fallen soldiers were identified as Major (res.) Harel Birenstock and Master Sergeant (res.) Tamir Vaknin.
According to an initial investigation, a force from the 55th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade was conducting a planned operation to secure and search the area when the soldiers entered the building and the explosive device was triggered.
Six soldiers were hit in the blast.
Additional troops rushed to the scene to rescue the casualties. Military medical teams pronounced two of the soldiers dead and provided emergency treatment to the four seriously wounded troops, who were evacuated by helicopter to Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa.
Majdal Zoun, located on a ridge near Lebanon’s southern coastline between Tyre and the Israeli border, was captured by Israeli reserve commando forces approximately two months ago. The area reportedly contains extensive Hezbollah infrastructure, including facilities connected to the terrorist organization’s drone operations.
Following the deadly explosion, the IDF carried out strikes against Hezbollah targets deeper inside southern Lebanon.
The incident came one day after the military accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire and warned that it would respond forcefully.
The IDF also issued an urgent evacuation warning for residents of the nearby village of al-Mansouri, instructing civilians to leave their homes and move at least one kilometer north.
The military said it did not seek to harm Lebanese civilians but warned that anyone remaining near Hezbollah operatives, weapons or military infrastructure was placing their life in danger.
