1 IDF soldier killed by drone, ceasefire with Hezbollah in doubt as fighting heats up in southern Lebanon

Following repeated rocket and drone attacks by Hezbollah on its northern communities, Israel has expanded operations against the terror group, pushing further into southern Lebanon. 

On Sunday morning, the IDF announced the death of another soldier, Staff Sgt. Michael Tyukin (21) from a Hezbollah drone strike. Tyukin, a recent immigrant from Ukraine, was part of a reconnaissance unit operating in southern Lebanon. He was an only child who immigrated with his mother in 2020. 

Israel had previously been seeking to ensure operational freedom in Lebanon amid attempts by the United States to negotiate an Iran deal that would likely declare a ceasefire in Lebanon as well. 

However, following the escalation by Hezbollah, including rocket and drone attacks, on Saturday, the military said it would begin expanding operations in southern Lebanon, while preparing for increased fire from the terror organization. 

“Following the expansion of IDF operations in southern Lebanon, and in accordance with the situational assessment, the IDF is preparing for the possibility of fire from Lebanese territory, focused on the northern region,” the IDF said in a statement. 

The military also announced the capture of the Crusader-era Beaufort Castle as part of the expanded operations. The castle overlooks the Galilee Panhandle in northern Israel, as well as the Nabatieh area in southern Lebanon. The military said that Nabatieh represents “a significant Hezbollah stronghold,” and vowed to continue operations to destroy terror infrastructure in the area. The IDF said the operation "is currently expanding to additional areas."

Sirens sounded across multiple northern communities throughout the day on Saturday, as rockets were launched towards the communities of Safed, Kiryat Shmona, Nahariya and Karmiel. 

Videos shared on social media showed people scrambling for cover as Hezbollah rockets struck the sea near the Nahariya beach. 

נפילות סמוך לחוף נהריה pic.twitter.com/NQaEPkwIdN

— כל החדשות בזמן אמת (@Saher_News_24_7) May 30, 2026

Alongside the rocket attacks, Hezbollah launched several drones at border communities over the weekend, with an explosion reported in Shomera. The IDF said it intercepted several other drones near Kfar Giladi and Metula in the north.

On Friday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said IDF troops had crossed Lebanon’s Litani River, the previous demarcation line for IDF control, amid ongoing Hezbollah attacks. 

The IDF announced the defensive line last month, declaring a security zone in southern Lebanon south of the Litani. Under the previous ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, the Lebanese government was expected to ensure that the territory south of the Litani remained free of any armed Hezbollah presence.

After the launch of around 15 rockets on Saturday morning, the IDF struck what it said was the Hezbollah artillery headquarters in the Al-Shuwaya area of southern Lebanon. 

צפו בתיעוד: צה"ל השמיד מפקדת ארטילריה מאוישת של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה

אתמול, צה"ל תקף והשמיד מפקדת ארטילריה של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחב א-שמעאלי שבדרום לבנון.

לאחר התקיפה, זוהו פיצוצי משנה המעידים על הימצאות של אמצעי לחימה בתוך המבנה.

המפקדה הותקפה לאחר שזוהה כי מחבלי… pic.twitter.com/bw2XxtgFoU

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) May 30, 2026

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned what he called a “dangerous and unprecedented” Israeli escalation in southern Lebanon, accusing Netanyahu of “implementing a policy of total destruction of cities and towns” and of carrying out mass displacements of the Lebanese civilian population. 

Meanwhile, the IDF released video footage of Hezbollah rocket attacks on Friday, showing rockets striking buildings, including the Saint George Orthodox Church in the Christian village of Marjaayoun.

🎥‼️WATCH: Hezbollah rockets striking a church in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah launched several rockets that hit the Saint Georges Orthodox Church in southern Lebanon, and hit buildings in the Christian village of Marjaayoun. IDF soldiers are not operating in the area near the… pic.twitter.com/3ilM7POZ05

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 29, 2026

Images on social media later that day showed damage to the church and other buildings in the town. The IDF said it did not have any soldiers operating in the town at that time. 

Yesterday, Hezbollah rockets struck Marjaayoun last night, hitting Saint Georges Orthodox Church and several other buildings. IDF says no troops were operating nearby. pic.twitter.com/4xz9VqoeU8

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) May 30, 2026

On Sunday morning, while the IDF expanded its operations in southern Lebanon, the military issued a wide-scale evacuation warning for the entire region, calling on residents to flee north of the Zahleh River. 

“In light of the terrorist Hezbollah organization's violation of the ceasefire agreement and its targeting of Israel's home front, the Israel Defense Forces are compelled to act against it forcefully, particularly in your areas,” IDF Arabic spokesman Col. Avichai Adraee warned. “The IDF does not intend to harm you.” 

“For the sake of your safety, we direct this to all residents located south of the Zahleh River – as indicated on the map – that you must evacuate your homes immediately,” he advised. 

The IDF Home Front Command announced the cessation of educational activities in Israel’s northern border communities due to the escalation in Hezbollah attacks. The Health Ministry also announced that the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya would move operations to an underground protected area following the change in Home Front Command guidelines. 

While this article was going to publication, the IDF launched a series of strikes in the area of Tyre, southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese media.

Opposition politicians slammed the coalition government’s response to the situation. 

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and opposition leader Yair Lapid, who recently joined forces ahead of the upcoming elections, said the government is “normalizing an intolerable and unacceptable situation.” 

“Dahiyeh must tremble until security returns to the north,” Bennett stated, referring to the district in Beirut with a large Hezbollah presence. 

Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot said the situation in the north reflects “a lack of leadership.” 

“This is not a ceasefire, this is a war with only one side participating,” Eisenkot wrote on 𝕏. “A responsible government that has only Israel's security in its sights would immediately approve for the IDF to act with full force on a broad scale against Hezbollah across all of Lebanon's territory – without tying hands, without restrictions!”