Four IDF soldiers killed by Hezbollah drone strike in Lebanon

Four Israel Defense Forces soldiers were killed overnight during fighting in Lebanon, the IDF said Friday. The fatalities occurred when an explosive drone struck the battalion commander’s tank, an attack attributed to Hezbollah. One of the slain soldiers was identified as Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, 32, from Kibbutz Beit HaShita, commander of the 52nd 'The Breachers' Battalion in the 401st 'Iron Tracks' Brigade; the other three names have not yet been cleared for publication, with families notified. The strike marked a sharp escalation on the northern border and underscored tensions despite ceasefire arrangements between Israel and Lebanon. Following the attack, the IDF launched extensive strikes across Southern Lebanon against Hezbollah positions and infrastructure. The episode also produced diplomatic reverberations: Iran canceled a planned delegation trip to Switzerland for talks on the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, reportedly citing Israeli operations in Lebanon. The White House said US Vice President JD Vance postponed his Switzerland visit. The IDF provided few additional details about the circumstances or the other soldiers' identities. Ben Simhon remains the latest senior officer to be killed amid Israel's ongoing operations against Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon.