Israeli Reservists Tamir Vaknin and Harel Birenstock Killed in Lebanon

On August 5, 2026, an explosive device detonated in the village of Majdal Zoun in southern Lebanon while Israeli reservists were searching a booby‑trapped building. Chief Master Sgt. (res.) Tamir Vaknin, a combat medic from the Paratroopers’ 55th Brigade, and Maj. (res.) Harel Birenstock were killed; four other reservists were seriously wounded.

A funeral in Eilat was attended by hundreds of mourners, where Vaknin’s father Shimon Vaknin spoke of his loss. Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri praised Vaknin as a “finest son.” The Israeli military opened an investigation into whether the device was planted or remotely detonated by Hezbollah and responded with strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon.