{
  "id": 345669,
  "title": "Hezbollah launched a drone at IDF soldiers, the military chose not to tell the public - report",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/hezbollah-launched-a-drone-at-idf-soldiers-the-military-chose-not-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-09T05:10:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-904925"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Friday, Hezbollah deployed an explosive drone near IDF soldiers in the Beaufort Castle region, according to Israeli media reports. However, the military chose not to disclose the incident to the public, media outlets have stated. No one was injured, and the drone itself did not inflict any damage, according to the reports.\n\nFollowing inquiries, the IDF released a statement explaining their decision. The document indicated that the IDF releases information to the public based on factual considerations and situational assessments. The spokesperson's office will refrain from publishing information that could potentially harm their forces in combat zones.\n\nDespite not issuing a public statement, the IDF reportedly confirmed the details of the drone incident to Ynet when asked. The decision not to publicize the event was made by IDF Northern Command chief Maj.-Gen. Rafi Milo, as claimed by Ynet.\n\nThe IDF Spokesperson's Unit typically publishes updates on activities along Israel's warfronts, including both military operations by Israel and enemy attacks. The reports of the drone incident coincide with an ongoing investigation into an explosion in southern Lebanon that killed two IDF soldiers and wounded four others. The explosion took place during a combat mission on Wednesday, the military announced on Thursday morning.\n\nAmong the casualties were Maj. (res.) Harel Birenstock, a 34-year-old company commander from Efrat, and M.-Sgt. (res.) Tamir Vaknin, a 33-year-old combat soldier from Eilat, both serving in Battalion 2855 of the 55th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade. Rambam Medical Center reported that the conditions of the four injured soldiers were serious, with one of them regaining consciousness in the afternoon. The IDF labeled the explosion as a \"blatant violation\" of the ceasefire and retaliated by striking weapon storage sites and command centers in southern Lebanon. They also issued evacuation warnings to the town of Mansouri. The Lebanese health ministry reported one fatality and 12 wounded individuals in an Israeli strike on the southern town of Tibnin, located approximately 25 kilometers from Mansouri.",
  "summary": "Hezbollah launched an explosive drone near IDF soldiers north of the Beaufort Castle area on Friday, but the Israeli military did not report the incident publicly, according to Israeli media. No casualties were reported, and the drone caused no damage. Despite not reporting the incident through its usual public channels, the IDF confirmed the details to Ynet when asked. The decision not to publicize the drone incident was made by IDF Northern Command chief Maj.-Gen. Rafi Milo. This followed a separate incident where two IDF reservists were killed and four more wounded in a booby-trapped house explosion in southern Lebanon. The IDF has launched a probe into the explosion, calling it a \"blatant violation\" of the ceasefire and striking weapon storage sites and command centers in southern Lebanon.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}