The Israeli army announced over the weekend that five soldiers were killed and 13 others injured in various incidents in southern Lebanon, just two days after a ceasefire was declared between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to Jerusalem Post, the Israeli army reported on Saturday that the five soldiers were killed in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon. The names of four soldiers have been released: Lieutenant Colonel Dor Gadliah Ben-Shimon (32), First Sergeant Yoav Klein (21), First Sergeant Liav Kababiya (20), and Soldier Nir Ben Ari (21), all from the Maglan Unit of the Commando Brigade.
The report indicates that on Friday, a projectile hit a tank belonging to the 52nd Battalion of the Givati Brigade, which was operating in the vicinity of the village of Tibnit. This incident resulted in the deaths of First Sergeant Klein, First Sergeant Kababiya, Lieutenant Colonel Ben-Shimon, and another soldier whose name has not been disclosed yet.
Later, Hezbollah attacked Israeli military positions in the Lebanese buffer zone overnight. It is believed that First Sergeant Ben Ari was the only soldier killed in these attacks, while 13 other soldiers were injured.
The newspaper cited the Israeli army claiming that during the nighttime attacks, Hezbollah launched more than 50 projectiles at the soldiers, describing this as a 'blatant violation of the ceasefire.'
In response, the Israeli army conducted airstrikes on several Hezbollah positions and affiliated sites in southern Lebanon, including rocket launch sites, weapon depots, and command centers. Subsequently, on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the Israeli army to maintain the ceasefire until further notice.
The army affirmed its commitment to the ceasefire, emphasizing its intent to 'eliminate any threat facing the State of Israel and its soldiers.'