Israel News for 6-19-2026
News Update
Four IDF soldiers were killed Thursday night when a Hezbollah attack drone struck their tank, near the village of Kfartebnit in southern Lebanon. Among those killed was Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, 32, of Kibbutz Beit Hashita, commander of the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Armored Brigade. The names of the three other soldiers were being withheld pending notification of their families. Ben Simhon had taken command of the 52nd Battalion in April, replacing a lieutenant colonel who was seriously wounded in combat in southern Lebanon. Several hours later, five soldiers were wounded in the same sector by an explosive-laden first-person-view (FPV) drone. The fighting near Kfartebnit is part of operations against what the military described as the last underground Hezbollah area north of Beaufort.
In response to the Hezbollah ceasefire violations, the IDF struck over 100 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon with Artillery and airstrikes. Talks between the U.S. and Iran that were set to be held today in Switzerland were called off because of the fighting. The White House said that VP Vance would not be traveling to Switzerland. The Iranian delegation also cancelled their trip, claiming that Lebanon is an integral part of the Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and Iran.
President Trump has not made any statements regarding the most recent flare up in Lebanon and how it effects the MOU. Yesterday he posted, “The United States is committed to PEACE, and we encourage everyone in the Middle East Region to maintain their commitment to allowing our negotiations to beautifully unfold. The Markets are loving what is happening with Oil Prices way down, and Stocks way up. We expect a complete Ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel.”
Yesterday, VP Vance lashed out at critics of the deal in the Israeli government saying, “Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who’s sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time. If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.”
Prime Minster Netanyahu has refrained from criticizing the deal, but reiterated that Israel would remain in southern Lebanon as long as necessary, to protect the northern border and communities.
How will all this play out?
Pray.
