Four Israeli soldiers were killed, and several wounded when a Hezbollah unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) targeted an Israeli army base in southern Lebanon on Sunday, according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
The UAV attack marks a significant escalation in hostilities in the region.
The IDF expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers and urged the public not to spread rumors or share the names of the injured, respecting the privacy of the families involved. “We share in the grief of the bereaved families and will continue to support them,” the IDF stated in a post on X.
Earlier in the day, the Israeli military detected five projectiles launched from Lebanon, triggering sirens across several regions, including Upper Galilee, Central Galilee, Western Galilee, Haifa Bay, and Carmel.
In another incident, a large barrage of anti-tank missiles was fired at Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. The IDF confirmed that during this assault, two soldiers were critically injured, while several others sustained light to moderate injuries.
“Earlier today (Sunday), a large barrage of anti-tank missiles was fired toward IDF troops in southern Lebanon. During the attack, two IDF soldiers were severely injured, and multiple others sustained light and moderate injuries. Their families have been notified,” the IDF stated on X.
During the evacuation of the injured soldiers, an Israeli tank under heavy fire briefly moved into a UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) post before retreating once enemy fire ceased.
The IDF emphasized that coordination with UNIFIL was maintained throughout the operation, ensuring no UNIFIL personnel were endangered. Smoke screens were deployed to provide cover during the evacuation.
The Hezbollah drone used in the attack is believed to be a Mirsad-1, an Iranian-designed UAV capable of carrying substantial explosive payloads.