The IDF has cleared for publication the names of two reserve soldiers who were killed Wednesday during combat operations in southern Lebanon after a booby-trapped building exploded as troops entered it.

The fallen soldiers are Maj. (res.) Harel Birenstock, 34, of Nokdim, a company commander in the 2855th Battalion of the 55th Paratroopers Brigade, and Sgt. Maj. (res.) Tamir Vaknin, 33, of Eilat, a fighter in the same battalion.

According to an initial IDF investigation, the incident occurred around midday in the southern Lebanese town of Majdal Zoun. Reserve forces had entered a structure while carrying out operations to locate and destroy Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure when a powerful explosive device detonated inside the building.

The blast killed Maj. Birenstock and Sgt. Maj. Vaknin and seriously wounded four additional reserve soldiers. All of the wounded were evacuated to hospitals for medical treatment, and their families have been notified. The IDF said the condition of the four wounded soldiers remains serious.

Military officials are still investigating whether the house had been booby-trapped by Hezbollah before the ceasefire or whether the explosives were planted afterward.

Following the deadly attack, the Israeli Air Force carried out strikes against Hezbollah targets in the Majdal Zoun area.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)