An IDF officer was killed and another seriously wounded during clashes in southern Lebanon on Thursday, the Israeli military confirmed. The incident occurred as Israel continued its offensive against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and Syria. The casualties came amid ongoing hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, with tensions escalating along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Lt. Ivri Dickshtein, 21, from Eli, died during an exchange of gunfire with Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon. Dickshtein, a platoon commander in the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion, was leading an operation when his unit encountered a group of Hezbollah fighters. The gun battle resulted in Dickshtein’s death, while another officer was critically injured, and a third soldier sustained moderate wounds. All five Hezbollah operatives involved in the firefight were killed in return fire, according to the IDF.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah launched a drone strike on northern Israel, targeting the area near the town of Eliakim, approximately 50 kilometers from the Lebanese border. The attack injured two soldiers, who were treated for shrapnel wounds at Rambam Hospital in Haifa. The drone strike triggered air raid sirens across northern Israel, including in Haifa.
The ongoing violence comes as the U.S. has proposed a ceasefire plan to Lebanon, amid concerns over the escalation in the region. U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson, delivered a draft proposal for a truce to Lebanese Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri. This proposal is part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to mitigate the conflict.
The United Nations also expressed concern over the rising violence, especially the impact on civilian areas, as Israel continues to strike Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon, including in southern Beirut. The IDF has targeted over 300 Hezbollah positions in Lebanon in the past week, including weapons depots and rocket launchers.
On the ground in Lebanon, Israel’s airstrikes have led to multiple casualties, with reports of at least nine people killed in Baalbek, Lebanon, and additional injuries from recent airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs. The situation remains volatile, with both sides bracing for further escalation as the conflict continues to unfold.
