An Israeli soldier was killed overnight Sunday in a Hezbollah drone attack in southern Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces announced on Sunday morning that Staff Sergeant Michael Tyukin, 21, from Ashkelon, had fallen in combat.

Tyukin served in the 846th Reconnaissance Battalion of the Givati Brigade. At around 10:30 p.m. local time, a Hezbollah explosive-laden drone struck the location where his unit was operating. Four other soldiers were lightly wounded and evacuated for medical treatment. Their families have been notified.

Despite the ceasefire, Hezbollah continues its attacks

Within just a few days, three Israeli soldiers have been killed by Hezbollah drones. On May 24, Sergeant Nehoray Leizer, 19, from Eilat, was killed in the Bint Jbeil area. On May 28, a drone struck the military site near Moshav Shomera; Sergeant Rotem Yanai, 20, from Giv’at Ada, was killed while running to a shelter. Tyukin is now the 13th Israeli soldier killed since the ceasefire took effect — and the 950th fallen soldier since October 7, 2023.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized the Israeli military to deliver “a devastating blow” to Hezbollah and said the attacks would be further intensified. “What this now requires of us is to increase the attacks, to raise the intensity,” Netanyahu said. Washington also backed Israel: a senior US official stated that Hezbollah had “ignored repeated calls to stop firing on Israel” and was “fully responsible” for the current situation.

Givati Brigade in continuous operations

The Givati Brigade has been operating intensively in southern Lebanon for months. Soldiers from the brigade have recently eliminated Hezbollah operatives, uncovered weapons depots, and destroyed rocket launchers inside civilian buildings. The drone attacks show that despite the “ceasefire” in effect since mid-April 2026, Hezbollah continues to test the limits — and Israeli soldiers are paying the price.

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