How the IDF clears Hezbollah’s explosive-rigged terrain in Southern Lebanon
The booby-trap blast that killed two Israeli reservists in a building in the Lebanese village of Majdal Zoun on Aug. 5 has thrown a spotlight on one of the most persistent threats facing Israeli troops operating in the security zone: explosive devices hidden in and around structures that Hezbollah has spent years preparing across its Southern Lebanon strongholds.Maj. (res.) Harel Birenstock, 34, of Nokdim, and Sgt. Maj. (res.) Tamir Vaknin, 33, of Eilat, were killed in the blast, and four soldiers were wounded during a security operation in Majdal Zoun.JNS has learned that the Majdal Zoun incident occurred not during an offensive mission but during a task in which a force went out to secure an armored bulldozer—a rear-echelon assignment rather than an attack. The area had already been considered cleared, and the explosive device was not inside a structure.The IDF is examining whether the explosive device had been planted…
Two Israeli reservists were killed in an explosive device blast in Majdal Zoun, Southern Lebanon, on August 5, highlighting the persistent threat of booby traps in Hezbollah-prepared structures. The incident occurred during a rear-echelon task to secure an armored bulldozer in an area previously considered cleared. The IDF is investigating whether the device was planted before or after the April 16 ceasefire and how it was triggered. A military source described the combat in Southern Lebanon as "saturated with explosive devices."
- Before entering any structure, Israeli forces observe, fire on it with tanks and shoulder-fired missiles, and scan the interior with drones to reduce risks.
- Forces detonate charges and use armored bulldozers to trigger pre-planted devices, with this "reduction process" occurring nightly.
- The IDF balances standoff strikes with physical clearing, using drones to drop explosives and destroy structures remotely, but also entering buildings to remove or destroy Hezbollah weapons and underground infrastructure.
- Robotic systems are deployed ahead of troops to clear suspicious streets and structures, and to position explosive charges.
The source noted that Hezbollah heavily fortified villages like Majdal Zoun prior to the IDF's entry, and that his unit has nearly completed clearing its sector, destroying over eight underground zones.
© All rights to the original article belong to the source. Din Online shows a headline, an excerpt and a link only. The objectivity rating is computed automatically and is an estimate only.
Discussion
No comments yet — be the first to comment.