An IDF officer was killed in a Hezbollah explosive drone attack in southern Lebanon on Friday, the military announced Saturday evening, as limited fighting continued with the Iran-backed terror group despite a newly extended ceasefire.

The slain officer was named as Cpt. Maoz Israel Recanati, 24, a platoon commander in the Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion, from Itamar.

Recanati was set to marry his fiancée, Rani, in a month, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We all embrace her and his loved ones during this difficult time,” the statement read.

He was the seventh IDF soldier to be killed in southern Lebanon since the start of the ceasefire, and the 20th since hostilities escalated amid the Iran war. A civilian contractor has also been killed in southern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the IDF said Saturday that it shot down several Hezbollah drones that were flying in areas of southern Lebanon where Israeli troops are operating. The drones triggered sirens in several border communities in the Western Galilee.

Additionally, Hezbollah launched several rockets and mortars at troops in southern Lebanon. The IDF said the projectiles struck near the forces but did not cause any injuries.

For its part, the IDF said Saturday evening that it had struck some 100 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon over the weekend.

According to the military, the targets included surveillance posts, weapon depots, and other infrastructure used by the terror group to advance attacks.

The strikes were carried out across southern Lebanon, including in the Tyre area.

עמדות תצפית, מחסן אמצעי לחימה ותשתיות טרור נוספות........

© The Times of Israel