2 reservists killed in Lebanon battle
Heavy exchanges of fire between IDF, Hizbullah continue in village of Bint Jbeil; six troops hit by anti-tank missile. Two reserve soldiers killed early Tuesday near village of Labouna; soldier seriously wounded near Aytaroun
It has been cleared for publication that two IDF reservists were killed and another two were lightly and moderately injured in exchanges of fire with Hizbullah early Tuesday morning. The battle took place near the village of Labouna in the Bint Jbeil area in southwest Lebanon.
One of the reservists killed is Gilad Balahsan, 28, from Carmiel. The soldiers that were injured in the clash have been evacuated to a hospital in Israel for treatment.
The two killed troops served in the Baram Brigade (the western brigade) as part of its reserve force, which has been assigned border patrol duties. On Monday night the force entered into Lebanese territory and encountered a terror cell near the village of Labouna.
Balahsan and another reservist were killed in the fire exchanges that ensued.
So far 65 IDF soldiers have been killed in three weeks of fighting. Twelve of them were killed in the village of Bint Jbeil.
Exchanges of fire continued in the area on Tuesday afternoon. Six soldiers were hurt when an anti-tank missile was fired at an IDF tank north of Bint Jbeil. Another tank which arrived in the area was hit by an explosive device, but no injuries were caused.
More then 30 terrorists have been killed in the western sector throughout Monday night and Tuesday morning, in a series of incidents. More than 480 terrorists have been killed in the fighting.
An IDF soldier was seriously wounded early Tuesday morning in fire exchanges with Hizbullah near the village of Aytaroun in the western sector. At the same time, exchanges of fire were also carried out in the village of Labouna; several troops sustained injuries.
The soldier that was seriously injured has been evacuated to a hospital in Israel, and the army is looking into the possibility he was hurt by friendly fire.
Hizbullah's improved missiles
Staff Sergeant Philip Mosko, 21, from Maale Adumim, who served as a paramedic in the Paratrooper Brigade, was killed during fierce fire exchanges between IDF soldiers and Hizbullah in the village of Dibel near Bint Jbeil Monday night. Five troops were injured in the incident.
The injured troops were evacuated to Israel by IDF forces and the families of the soldiers that have been hurt were notified.
Hizbullah gunmen used an improved antitank missile, which was fired at a Puma-type armored vehicle that was carrying a number of auxiliary forces troops, including paramedics.
"Hizbullah has a variety of improved missiles and when such a missile is fired at an armored vehicle, damage cannot be completely prevented. Usually the vehicle sustains slight damages and the troops remain unharmed. In some cases the outcome is more severe, and this is something we will need to address," a military official told Ynet.
