Disaster in Southern Lebanon: Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon (of blessed memory) fell in operational activity
[89989] Disaster in Southern Lebanon: Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon (of blessed memory) fell in operational activity
Lieutenant Colonel Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon and three additional fighters from the 52nd Battalion were killed overnight by a suspicious target striking a tank in Southern Lebanon.
Severe incident in Southern Lebanon: Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon (of blessed memory) fell in battle
A serious security incident occurred overnight (Thursday), June 19, 2026, in the area of the village of Tibnit in Southern Lebanon. According to reports by Amir Ettinger & Yuval Segev and Dafna Liel, around 00:20, a "suspicious target struck a tank of the 52nd Battalion forces" operating under the command of the Givati Brigade Combat Team.
As a result of the severe strike, Lieutenant Colonel Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon (of blessed memory), commander of the 52nd Battalion, fell. Along with him, three additional IDF fighters were killed, whose names have not yet been released for publication and notification has been provided to their families. Amir Ettinger & Yuval Segev note that the incident is currently under operational investigation, and that "it cannot be unequivocally determined that this was a strike by an explosive drone."
Dafna Liel adds that the possibility that it was an explosive drone is indeed one of the avenues being investigated by the IDF.
Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon (of blessed memory) assumed his position as commander of the 52nd Battalion only about two months ago, after replacing his predecessor who was seriously wounded in battle in the same sector. The incident adds to a series of complex operational challenges that IDF forces are dealing with on the northern border.