Terrorist infiltrates from Lebanon, shoots at Israeli soldiers before being eliminated

A terrorist managed to cross the Lebanese border and infiltrate into Israel on Tuesday evening, opening fire on Israeli troops before being killed, and triggering a broad alarm that forced hundreds of residents to barricade themselves in their homes while the military conducted searches to exclude the possibility of a second attacker.

The highly unusual incident occurred despite the Israel Defense Forces continuing to maintain a military presence in a several-kilometer-deep security buffer.

The IDF later stated, “Following the initial report regarding a shooting toward IDF soldiers operating in the Ramim Ridge area, IDF soldiers operating in the area identified a terrorist in Israeli territory, near the Israel-Lebanon border. The soldiers eliminated him shortly after he crossed into Israeli territory.”

“IDF ground soldiers, including special forces, along with Israeli Air Force aircraft, were dispatched to the scene and continue to conduct extensive searches in the area,” the military said, with Army Radio reporting that troops of the elite Shayetet 13 naval commando unit had been deployed to the area.

The incident took place amid a fragile ceasefire on the Lebanese front, where Hezbollah has continued to attack Israeli troops, occasionally setting off alarms in northern Israeli communities.

Israel has vowed that any attack on its territory would trigger airstrikes on Hezbollah’s stronghold in the Dahiyeh district of Beirut. However, no such strikes have been carried out since the last attack on Sunday, which sparked a brief exchange of fire between Israel and Iran. The IDF has not specified whether the slain terrorist was a member of Hezbollah.

Hezbollah supporters identified Hamza Tariq Hammoud as the gunman who infiltrated northern Israel on Tuesday. Israeli troops killed Hammoud following the infiltration. pic.twitter.com/mvVe3GaIAO

— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) June 10, 2026

According to i24 News, the incident occurred near the town of Margaliot, on the Ramim Ridge in the Galilee Panhandle area, just south of Metula.

Early on Tuesday afternoon, a logistical support soldier alerted combat troops after spotting a suspicious figure dressed in uniform. When the soldiers arrived, they heard gunfire and opened fire toward its source, killing the terrorist, who was armed with a long knife and a handgun.

Lebanese reports later identified him as Hamza Hammoud, a resident of the village of Markaba, located about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from Margaliot.

Upon identifying an infiltration, an alarm was triggered to isolate the area and launch intensive searches while ordering residents to barricade themselves in their homes.

צה"ל ממשיך לתקוף תשתיות טרור בדרום לבנון: משגרים מוכנים לשיגור ותשתית ששימשה לשיגור רחפנים לעבר כוחותינו

לאורך היממה האחרונה, צה"ל תקף תשתיות של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה בצור ובמספר מרחבים בדרום לבנון.

בצור, הותקפו שש תשתיות ששימשו את ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה לקידום מתווי טרור נגד… pic.twitter.com/6c0SfdbAZl

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) June 10, 2026

Due to the severity of the incident, the investigation will reportedly be led personally by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir.

“To the best of my recollection, the last time terrorists infiltrated from Lebanon into Israeli territory was in January 2024 – two and a half years ago – when a terrorist cell infiltrated Israel in the Mount Dov area, where there is no border fence and the area is an Israeli enclave beyond the border fence,” said Army Radio military correspondent Doron Kadosh.

“The IDF will need to explain to residents of northern Israel how the security buffer zone established in Lebanon – which was intended to protect communities in the rear from infiltration threats – did not prevent a terrorist from entering Israeli territory,” Kadosh added.

In the hours following the incident, several alarms were activated once again in the same area, when Hezbollah launched drones and rockets at Israeli troops, according to the IDF, which noted that the attacks did not cross into Israeli territory.

אמצעי לחימה לצד עריסת תינוק: כוחות חטיבת גבעתי ממשיכים בפעילות נגד ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה בדרום לבנון

כוחות חטיבת גבעתי פועלים בעת האחרונה צפונית לנהר הליטני, לחיסול מחבלים ולהסרת איומים על אזרחי מדינת ישראל. מתחילת הפעילות במרחב, כוחות החטיבה חיסלו יותר מ-40 מחבלים של ארגון הטרור… pic.twitter.com/p4Gh2MGm9B

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) June 9, 2026

On Monday, the Israeli military also stated that, over the past several days, troops “located several Hezbollah weapons storage facilities inside civilian structures in the areas of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah and Zawtar al-Sharqiyah,” which lie beyond the Litani River.

The finds included “Kalashnikov rifles, anti-tank missiles and launchers, magazines, grenades, communication devices, drones, and additional military equipment.”

In one facility used by Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, they found “dozens of weapons alongside a baby crib,” the IDF reported.

“Since the beginning of activities in the area, more than 40 Hezbollah terrorists have been eliminated.”

In addition, IDF airstrikes on Monday struck six Hezbollah sites in the area of Tyre, including a drone launch site.

“In southern Lebanon, the IDF struck ready-to-use launchers, terrorists who operated in the area in which IDF soldiers are operating, and additional terror infrastructure sites.”