Two IDF soldiers killed, four seriously injured in southern Lebanon

Two Israeli Defense Force soldiers were killed and four others severely injured during a combat mission in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, the military announced on Thursday. Major Harel Birenstock, 34, from Efrat, and Major Sergeant Tamir Vaknin, 33, from Eilat, both serving in Battalion 2855 of the 55th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade, were among the fallen.

Birenstock, a company commander, was married with four children, including a six-month-old baby. Vaknin served as a combat soldier in the same battalion. The four wounded soldiers had serious injuries, but one regained consciousness. The IDF called the explosion that killed Birenstock and Vaknin during a search operation in Majdal Zoun a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire, targeting weapon storage sites and command centers in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese health ministry reported one death and 12 injuries in an Israeli strike on the southern town of Tibnin, near Mansouri. Birenstock's funeral took place at the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem, while Vaknin's was at the military cemetery in Eilat. The Israeli Prime Minister paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, describing them as courageous and dedicated to their reserve duty.