Two IDF soldiers were killed and seven were injured today in a terror missile attack that occurred around noon, near Mt. Dov close the Israel’s’ northern border.

The casualties are Major Yohai Kalangel, 25 years old, from Gush-Etzion and Staff Sergeant Dor Nini, 20 years old from Shtulim. Both soldiers were from the Tzabar Battalion of the Givati Brigade.

A source within the IDF spoke to Tazpit News Agency about the exact whereabouts of the attack. “The soldiers were part of an IDF convoy that was using a civilian road, one that hundreds of civilians use on a daily basis. They were not patrolling the border fence,” he told Tazpit.

The attack took place near Ghajar, an Arab village on the Israeli-Lebanese border. Hezbollah took responsibility for the attack and stated it was a retaliatory action for the bombing of the joint Iranian-Hezbollah convoy, which took place on Syrian territory on January 18, 2015.

In the attack, Hezbollah fired five missiles, probably “Kornet” Anti-Tank missile, at two IDF vehicles moving on a civilian road, in close proximity to the Israeli-Lebanese border.

Another attack took place today when IDF posts on Mt. Hermon and Mt. Dov sustained mortar shell bombings fired from Lebanon around 1:00 PM. No one was injured in the attack.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu published an official response, “Those who orchestrated this attack will pay the price for their actions. For some time now, Iran via Hezbollah is trying to set up a terror front against Israel on the Golan Heights. We are acting firmly and responsibly against this attempt. The Lebanese government and the Assad regime are responsible for the attacks against Israel originating from their territories.”
“Our goal is to protect the state of Israel, and the sole consideration is the security of its civilians,” said Netanyahu.

The GOC Northern Command on Wednesday evening declared Israel’s northern border in the Golan Heights along the boundary with Syria to be a closed military zone.

The area affected stretches from Kibbutz Dafna in the Upper Galilee to the Druze town of Mas’ade in the northern Golan Heights. Included in the region are Kibbutz Dan, the border village of Ghajar, the Banias, Fort Nimrod, Neve Ativ, Majdal Shams and Mount Hermon.

The military announcement comes after the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terror organization launched the most serious attack on northern Israel seen since the start of the Syrian civil war.

Two IDF soldiers were killed and six others were wounded, including two with serious injuries, in an afternoon-long battle between the IDF and Hezbollah guerrillas operating in southern Lebanon. In addition, a Spanish peacekeeper serving in the UNIFIL force since November 2014 was killed during the exchange of gunfire.

The IDF has confirmed that Hezbollah fired six Kornet anti-tank missiles at a convoy traveling in northern Israel, and not two as originally reported. Three hit the convoy; one hit a house in the Druze village of Ghajar, setting it afire.

The convoy was comprised of two IDF vehicles leading two civilian vehicles on a road returning from the area of Mount Dov. It appears that the goal of the attack – as in the 2006 cross-border raid that launched the Second Lebanon War – was to spark a military provocation that would be a distraction while Hezbollah terrorists abducted one or more IDF soldiers or Israeli civilians. Hezbollah also reportedly simultaneously directed a round of mortar shells at the area near Metullah and around Mount Hermon.

Because civilians were involved in the attack – as well as the two IDF vehicles that were incinerated when they were struck and the soldiers who were killed – the incident is being considered in a far more serious light.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu convened the Security Cabinet to discuss the ramifications of the attack and to decide how Israel should respond.

UNIFIL is meanwhile attempting to negotiate a resumption of the ceasefire that was arranged between the two sides to end the Second Lebanon War, and which was violated today (Jan. 28.)

The IDF has released for publication the names of the IDF soldier and officer killed earlier today (Wednesday, Jan. 28) by Hezbollah in its attack near Mount Dov.

Sergeant Dor Chaim Nini, 20, an infantry soldier from Shtulim, was killed by an anti-tank missile fired at the jeep in which he was riding. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Captain Yochai Kalangel, 25, a company commander in the Tzabar Battalion in the Givati Brigade, was a resident of Har Gilo. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Major.

In addition, seven IDF soldiers were injured. Two are listed in serious condition and were admitted to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa. Five are in good condition with shrapnel wounds and broken bones and are currently recovering in Tzefat’s Ziv Medical Center.

The families of all the soldiers have been notified. May God grant a speedy recovery to the wounded and may He avenge the blood of those who were killed.

Two IDF soldiers were killed and seven others were wounded, most of them suffering shrapnel injuries and broken bones, in an attack on northern Israel launched Wednesday at 11:35am by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist organization.

A UNIFIL peacekeeper from Spain also died in the exchange of artillery fire that followed.

The multi-pronged attack on Mount Dov, Mount Hermon and the Metullah area in northern Israel involved gunfire and anti-tank missiles directed at a convoy of two IDF vehicles and two civilian vehicles traveling from Mount Dov. Both of the unarmored army jeeps were hit directly.

One of the missiles hit a home in the Druze village of Ghajar, which caught fire.

The IDF was instructed to evacuate all civilians from Mt. Hermon, according to IDF Spokesman Lt.-Col. Peter Lerner. Residents of Metulla and Kibbutz Snir were asked to stay inside on lockdown. The area of the northern Golan Heights along the border with Syria has since been declared a closed military zone. Roads to the area were closed to all civilian traffic. Route 99 was shut down by police in both directions and the airports at Rosh Pina and in Haifa were still closed on Wednesday evening.

The IDF returned artillery fire to the source of the attack, launching more than 20 shells at the southern Lebanon village of Kfar Shouba, according to military sources speaking on Army Radio. Although it appears that Hezbollah attempted to carry out a cross-border abduction raid similar to that launched in 2006 at the start of the Second Lebanon War, the effort failed and there were no kidnappings, an IDF spokesperson said.

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz convened an emergency assessment meeting as IDF troops were sent to the north to beef up forces in the region.

The IDF searched the area for tunnels near Zarit, where residents over the past year reported hearing the sounds of tapping and perhaps “digging” underneath their homes.

For obvious reasons, the IDF and IAF are on the highest alert status. Government leaders told media at 3 pm that the situation appeared to have “calmed” for the present time but that there is “not yet a feeling of having returned to a normal routine.”

This was the most serious security incident to take place in northern Israel since the Hezbollah rocket attack and kidnapping of two IDF soldiers that led to the 2006 Second Lebanon War.

Air fields in northern Israel, including the Haifa airport, were partially shut down Wednesday in response to an attack by Hezbollah on Israel’s northern border earlier in the day.

Israeli airlines will continue flights, but private flights have been temporarily banned.

Two soldiers were killed, seven others were wounded and a civilian home was destroyed in the multi-prong attack.

The home destroyed was in Ghajar, a small Druze town on the Lebanese border. The town was placed on lockdown following the missile attack and ordered to remain in sheltered rooms in case of further attacks. Movement into or out of the town was prohibited.

In addition, the northern part of the Golan Heights has been declared a temporary closed military zone. The region from Dafna to Mas’ade is closed to civilians until noon Thursday.

The IDF announced that two Israeli soldiers were killed as a result of the Hezbollah terror attack earlier today.
In addition, seven other IDF soldiers were injured; injury levels vary from light to moderate.

UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) announced Wednesday afternoon it is trying to arrange a return to the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that Hezbollah broke with its attack earlier in the day.

One UNIFIL soldier from Spain was killed as a result of the battle launched against Israel from Lebanon by Hezbollah.

Israeli leaders have been discussing how to respond to the attack, termed a “severe” violation by all.

Five injured soldiers were evacuated to Ziv Medical Center in Tzefat, four with light wounds and one in fair condition. Four others were taken to Rambam Hospital, condition unknown, including one civilian. A number of civilians were also being treated at a clinic in Kiryat Shmona for trauma and severe anxiety.

IDF tanks and armored personnel carriers (APCs) were being trucked up to the north by mid-afternoon, local sources reported.

Heads of all security and defense departments are meeting with the prime minister and IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz at the Kirya army base in Tel Aviv. All domestic flights within Israel have been grounded in accordance with security protocols.

Gunfire continues to be exchanged sporadically between IDF and Hezbollah forces across the northern border, although by 3 pm government sources said the situation had “calmed.”

Hezbollah-linked Al Manar TV officially announced the terror organization was responsible for the multi-pronged attack on northern Israel.

While Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned Hezbollah to “look at Gaza” before continuing its attacks, opposition Labor party chairman Isaac Herzog expressed his support for decisions being taken by the security establishment. He told media the terrorists should not make the mistake of thinking that upcoming elections could divide the people of Israel at the bottom line.