Soldiers from the 401st Brigade completed their mission in southern Lebanon, destroying a total of 1,200 Hezbollah structures throughout the eight-month operation, the IDF announced on Sunday.
The mission focused on defensive operations along the Lebanon border and offensive work within the security zone. Specifically, the troops seized weapons, destroyed hundreds of meters of underground tunnel systems, and dismantled terrorist infrastructure.
The 401st Brigade Combat Team, also known as the “Iron Tracks” Brigade, killed more than 60 Hezbollah terrorists and located over 600 weapons, including RPG rockets, anti-tank missiles, machine guns, and Kalashnikov rifles.
“Our mission was clear: to prevent and push back the threat to Israeli civilians. This was the objective we repeated to ourselves every morning and every evening,” said Col. Yoav Schneider, Commander of the 401st Brigade.
IDF brigade killed Hezbollah terrorists, enforced security
Though the mission was an overall success, it didn’t come without a cost. Four soldiers in the 52nd battalion fell after Hezbollah struck a tank in southern Lebanon on June 21, identified as Lt.-Col. Dor Gedalia Ben-Simhon, 32, St.- Sgt. Yoav Klein, 21, St.-Sgt. Liav Kababia, 20, and St.-Sgt. Nave Habshoosh, 20.
“We will always remember the brigade’s fallen, and they will remain in our hearts forever. With the loss of every fallen troop, we grieve and bow our heads. At the same time, we immediately regroup and remain focused on completing the mission to ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain,” Schneider said.
The IDF said its activity in the region focused on protecting Israeli troops and civilians after the Lebanese terror group renewed rocket and drone attacks in March.