Hezbollah Drone Strike on Israeli Army Base Kills 4 Soldiers, Injures Dozens
A Hezbollah drone strike on an Israeli military base in Binyamina on Sunday evening resulted in the deaths of four soldiers and injuries to around 60 others, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The base, home to the Golani Brigade, was targeted by two drones launched from Lebanon. While one drone was intercepted, the other managed to evade Israel’s air defense systems, striking during the dinner hour when the soldiers were gathered. Hezbollah quickly claimed responsibility for the attack.
Medical officials reported that 41 soldiers remain hospitalized, with eight in serious or critical condition. Those injured were distributed across hospitals in northern and central Israel, with Hillel Yaffe Hospital in Hadera treating the largest number of patients.
The four soldiers killed were identified as Sgt. Omri Tamari from Mazkeret Batya, Sgt. Yosef Hieb from Tuba Zangariya, Sgt. Yoav Agmon from Binyamina-Giv’at Ada, and Sgt. Alon Amitay from Ramot Naftali. All were 19 years old and in infantry training with the Golani Brigade. The IDF also reported that a reservist in southern Lebanon and another soldier in southern Gaza were seriously injured in separate incidents the same day.
IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi visited the Golani base following the attack, praising the soldiers for their quick response in caring for the wounded. “We are at war, and an attack on a training base in the rear is serious with painful results,” Halevi said. “You acted properly in treating and evacuating the wounded and the victims.”
The attack marks one of the deadliest on an Israeli military facility by Hezbollah in recent years, as Israel’s air defense systems typically intercept aerial threats. An investigation has been launched to determine why no sirens were activated during the attack, and how the drone was able to evade detection.
