4 soldiers killed & 58 wounded, including 8 in serious condition, by Hezbollah drone strike on IDF base 60 km from the border

Israel stops airstrikes in Beirut following US pressure – report

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Four IDF soldiers were killed and 58 others wounded, with eight of them in serious condition, after a Hezbollah drone exploded in the Golani Brigade's training base near the town of Binyamina, some 65 km (40 miles) from the border, on Sunday evening.

According to Magen David Adom emergency services, at least 11 others were in serious to moderate condition, while the rest sustained minor injuries.

The wounded were evacuated to several hospitals across central Israel via helicopters and ambulances.

The killed soldiers were named: Sgt. Omri Tamari (19) from Mazkeret Batya; Sgt. Yosef Hieb (19) from Tuba Zangariya; Sgt. Yoav Agmon (19) from Binyamina; and Sgt. Alon Amitay (19) from Ramot Naftali.

The IDF announced late at night that the site of the attack was the dining hall in the Golani Brigade's training base, which was filled with young soldiers taking their evening dinner during their basic training in the base.

No siren was activated before the strike, and Israel's public broadcaster, Kan News, reported that the drone was part of a wave of drones launched from Lebanon.

While several drones were intercepted near Acre, at least one evaded Israel's defense system, making its way to Binyamina. Israeli media reported that the drone flew at a very low altitude, making its detection and interception more difficult.

Several media outlets cited unconfirmed witness reports suggesting that the drone may have fired a missile before exploding on impact, leading to the unusually high number of casualties.

A military helicopter is seen after evacuating wounded men from the drone attack near Binyamina, at Rambam Hospital, in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, October 13, 2024. (Photo: Flash90)

Medical teams seen at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, after evacuating wounded people from the scene of the drone attack in Binyamina, October 13, 2024. (Photo: Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

Hezbollah later claimed responsibility for the launch of a swarm of drones, ostensibly targeting an army base near Binyamina.

The incident, which was among the most serious mass-casualty events caused by Hezbollah drones during the war, came amid a wave of similar attacks on Sunday evening.

Shortly after the incident, the IDF announced that another drone was shot down off the northern coast.

Less than an hour earlier, drone infiltration alarms were activated in towns along Israel's northern Mediterranean coast, from Nahariya near the Lebanese border to Acre on Haifa Bay.

Meanwhile, Kan News reported that the political leadership ordered the IDF to halt strikes on targets in Beirut, as the U.S. pushes for a ceasefire in southern Lebanon. The last airstrike in Beirut occurred on Thursday afternoon.

The issue of Israeli strikes in Beirut, which Hezbollah had declared a 'red line' warranting severe retaliation, was reportedly discussed during the recent phone call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Israeli Air Force has been conducting daily strikes on Hezbollah weapons depots, production sites and headquarters, as well as targeting top commanders, in the Lebanese capital in recent weeks.