A drone strike on an Israeli army base in northern Israel has left four soldiers dead and more than 60 others injured, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
The attack, which occurred at a base near the town of Binyamina, approximately 20 miles south of Haifa, has been claimed by Hezbollah.
The IDF confirmed that seven soldiers sustained severe injuries in the strike, which targeted a training camp of the Golani Brigade, one of the Israeli army’s most renowned units.
The drone strike was reportedly carried out by a “swarm of drones,” a tactic Hezbollah says was in retaliation for recent Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon and Beirut.
The Israeli ambulance service, Magen David Adom, reported that 61 people were injured, with three listed in critical condition. Of those injured, 37 were transported to regional hospitals by ambulance or helicopter.
The severity of injuries among the others ranged from moderate to mild, with nine individuals also treated for anxiety.
There was a discrepancy between the MDA’s initial injury report and the IDF’s statement, particularly regarding the number of soldiers critically injured, though the reason for the difference is unclear.
Israeli censorship rules initially restricted media outlets from reporting on the location and nature of the attack, but the IDF later confirmed that the Binyamina base had been targeted.
Reports from Israeli media suggested that the base was struck by a low-level drone, possibly launched from Lebanon.
The unsophisticated nature of the weapon appeared to have bypassed Israel’s early-warning systems, leaving the personnel on the base unprepared.
Emergency response teams quickly mobilized, with helicopters and ambulances rushing casualties to hospitals across northern Israel.
Many of the wounded were evacuated to Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera, while others were transported to hospitals in Tel Hashomer, Haifa, Afula, and Netanya.
While details remain limited, it is believed that many of the injured were inside a communal canteen when the drone strike occurred.
Images circulating on social media show a damaged mess hall with a large hole in its roof, further indicating that the soldiers were caught off-guard during the attack.
This incident adds to the escalating tensions in the region, as Hezbollah has increasingly used drone technology to target Israeli positions, raising concerns over the ongoing conflict between Israel and the armed group.
