As the crew worked to address the malfunction, Hezbollah terrorists launched an explosive drone that detonated near the vehicle.
By The IDF Club
An IDF soldier was killed and six others were wounded in a Hezbollah drone attack in southern Lebanon on Thursday, underscoring the continued volatility along the northern front despite an ongoing ceasefire.
The military identified the fallen soldier as Sgt. Idan Fooks, 19, of Petah Tikva, a tank crewman in the 77th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade.
The incident occurred near the village of Taybeh, roughly four kilometers from the Israeli border. A tank operating in the area had become immobilized, and as the crew worked to address the malfunction, Hezbollah terrorists launched an explosive drone that detonated near the vehicle.
The blast killed Fooks and seriously wounded four additional soldiers, while two others sustained moderate and light injuries.
An Israeli Air Force helicopter was dispatched to evacuate the wounded, landing inside Lebanese territory to carry out the rescue.
During the evacuation, Hezbollah continued its attack, launching two additional explosive drones toward the extraction site. One was intercepted, while the second landed just meters from the helicopter, causing no further casualties or damage.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed condolences following the incident.
“Our hearts ache for the fall of Sgt. Idan Fooks, of blessed memory,” Netanyahu said, adding that he and his wife, along with the entire nation, send their condolences to the family and wish a full recovery to the wounded soldiers. He praised Fooks for fighting “with courage and determination” to restore security to Israel’s northern communities.
The attack comes amid growing concerns that repeated Hezbollah actions are steadily eroding the ceasefire. Speaking earlier Sunday, Netanyahu warned that the group’s ongoing violations are effectively undermining the agreement.
“It must be understood that Hezbollah’s violations are essentially disintegrating the ceasefire,” he said, adding that Israel will continue to act forcefully to protect its soldiers and civilians.
