IDF Probe: Hezbollah Explosive Drone Caused Tank Tragedy That Killed Four

The IDF said Sunday evening that a preliminary investigation into the June 19 tank disaster in southern Lebanon found that a Hezbollah explosive drone, likely carrying an anti-tank warhead, struck the 52nd Battalion command tank. The attack killed Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, 32, and Staff Sgts. Nave Habshoosh, Yoav Klein and Liav Kababia. Defense correspondents reported the drone hit the fuel tank near the Ali Tahr ridge south of Nabatieh, causing a blast that penetrated the crew compartment. The Armored Corps is still investigating how the drone defeated the Merkava's defenses, a sober lesson as Israel adapts to Hezbollah's Iranian-supplied aerial threat.