4 IDF soldiers killed, 2 wounded in fighting in southern Lebanon, as Israel eliminates dozens of Hezbollah terrorists

Four IDF soldiers were killed in fighting against Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military announced on Tuesday morning. 

The names of three of the soldiers have been released, while the fourth soldier’s name has been withheld pending notification of the family. 

The soldiers were identified as: 

Cpt. Noam Madmoni, 22, from Sderot 

Staff Sgt. Ben Cohen, 21, from Lehavim

Staff Sgt. Maxsim Entis, 21, from Bat Yam

All of the soldiers served with the Nahal Brigade’s Reconnaissance Unit, operating under the command of the 162nd Division.

They were killed after the unit spotted a cell of Hezbollah gunmen during operations and engaged them at close range on Monday.

Several other soldiers were wounded in the exchange of fire, and as they were being evacuated, Hezbollah fighters launched an anti-tank missile at their position. 

The IDF returned fire, responding with airstrikes and tank shelling. 

Two other soldiers were wounded in the incident; one was listed in serious condition, and another in moderate condition. All the injured were evacuated for medical treatment, and their families were notified. 

Since the resumption of ground operations in southern Lebanon, ten soldiers have been killed.

At the same time, the military also announced that the fighters from the 7th and Golani Brigades, operating under the 36th Division in southern Lebanon, eliminated dozens of Hezbollah fighters on Monday. 

The IDF said the terrorists were eliminated after being identified attempting to carry out ambushes in southern Lebanon, an area which the Lebanese Army had declared to be under its full control earlier this year. 

As part of the Lebanon Ceasefire, negotiated in November 2024, the Lebanese state is responsible for disarming Hezbollah and ensuring the area south of the Litani River is free of Hezbollah infrastructure.

Hezbollah has threatened to launch a civil war if the government follows through with plans to disarm it.

כוחות אוגדה 36 ממשיכים להשמיד תשתיות טרור ולאתר אמצעי לחימה בדרום לבנון

כוחות חטיבות 7 וגולני פועלות בפיקוד אוגדה 36 מזה מספר שבועות בדרום לבנון.

ביממה האחרונה חוסלו עשרות מחבלים שזוהו בעת ניסיונות מארב במרחב דרום לבנון. אחד המחבלים זוהה חמוש ב-RPG כשהוא נערך לירי לעבר הכוחות,… pic.twitter.com/jC0iKXYHOn

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 31, 2026

In one instance, soldiers spotted a terrorist with an RPG, preparing to fire toward IDF soldiers. The terrorist was eliminated prior to firing on the Israeli forces. In another instance, Israeli troops apprehended a Hezbollah terrorist who was observing the soldiers. He was taken for interrogation. 

Among the Hezbollah terrorists killed were Hamza Ibrahim Rakin, Deputy Commander of Hezbollah’s Unit 1800, along with the unit’s Operations Officer, the IDF announced. 

Rakin served as a key liaison between Hezbollah and Palestinian terrorist organizations, with his unit responsible for coordinating operations across Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, and Judea and Samaria.

The Israeli forces also discovered and dismantled weapon storage facilities in which numerous weapon caches were located, along with command centers, and a rocket launcher which had been used to fire on Israeli territory. Additionally, the soldiers discovered military vests, helmets, and a loaded RPG. 

“The IDF will continue to act forcefully against the Hezbollah terrorist organization, which has decided to join the campaign and operate under the auspices of the Iranian regime, and (the IDF) will not allow harm to the citizens of the State of Israel,” the military said in a statement.