🪖 Lebanon Operations and Ceasefire: Following American pressure and Iranian threats, Israel halted broader strikes across Lebanon over Shabbat after coordination between Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Katz, and the United States. According to the IDF, military activity elsewhere in Lebanon has been suspended, while operations continue within the declared security zone and against immediate threats.
Fighting remains concentrated in southern Lebanon, particularly around the Ali Taher ridge near Nabatieh. The IDF assesses that Hezbollah maintains a major underground command facility there serving as the nerve center of its Badr regional division. The area was added this week to Israel’s updated forward defense zone together with the Majdal Zoun sector.
According to the military, Hezbollah launched more than 50 projectiles toward Israeli forces overnight, constituting repeated violations of the ceasefire arrangement.
⚫ Israeli Casualties: The IDF announced the deaths of Staff Sgt. Yoav Klein, 21, of Herzliya, from the 401st Armored Brigade’s 52nd Battalion, and Sgt. First Class Nir Ben Ari, 21, of Maglan, from Kerem Maharal.
An IDF investigation found that the tank in which Klein was serving was struck by Hezbollah fire near Kfar Tebnit and the Ali Taher ridge. The incident also killed Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, commander of the 52nd Battalion, together with two additional soldiers whose names have not yet been cleared for publication.
In a separate attack around 1:30 a.m., rockets and an explosive drone struck an IDF position in Kfar Tebnit. Ben Ari was killed and thirteen soldiers were wounded, including two seriously and one moderately.
May their families be comforted among the mourners of Zion. And may HaShem avenge their blood.
🎯 Israeli Military Response: The IDF reported extensive overnight and morning strikes against Hezbollah positions across southern Lebanon, targeting infrastructure, rocket launch sites, weapons storage facilities, command centers, and operatives.
The military stated that Hezbollah’s attacks constituted repeated violations of the ceasefire and reiterated that Israeli forces would continue responding to threats while remaining committed to the agreement under the directives of the political leadership.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, approximately 300 terrorist targets were struck and around 100 terrorists were eliminated during the past two days in response to Hezbollah attacks. A senior official said Israel would remain in southern Lebanon “for as long as necessary” to defend the northern border.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett publicly defended the operations, arguing that the IDF is acting in accordance with international law against Hezbollah and is engaged in a defensive war imposed on Israel.
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