Hezbollah has likely destroyed its first Merkava Mk4 tank using an FPV drone in Lebanon.
A video released by Hezbollah’s Central Military Media Service on Telegram appears to show the strike.
The footage shows an FPV drone hitting a stationary Merkava Mk4 tank fitted with a protective “cope cage.” Despite this added protection, the drone strikes the roof of the vehicle, triggering a fire and likely igniting the ammunition inside.
Unlike the older Mk3 version, the Merkava Mk4 is equipped with an isolated, mechanized ammunition storage system. This setup is designed to maintain a high rate of fire while also improving crew protection in case of incoming fire or ammunition detonation.
The video clearly shows the ammunition burning. At the same time, it is not possible to determine whether the crew had left the hatch to the isolated compartment open at the moment of the strike.
In addition, tanks of the Merkava family – especially the Merkava Mk4 – feature some of the thickest additional roof protection designed to prevent penetration by most threats, including artillery fragments, direct hits from 81 mm and 120 mm mortar rounds, and other munitions.
As is typical for Hezbollah media releases, the recording stops immediately after the strike, making it impossible to assess the final extent of the tank’s damage.
It is worth noting that this is not the first footage showing Israeli tanks being hit in Lebanon. In March 2026, Hezbollah released a video of a Merkava Mk3 tank being struck, with footage showing a drone hitting the rear section of the vehicle.
This area is considered the most vulnerable part of the Israeli tank due to its relatively weaker armor and the placement of the main ammunition there.
In addition, the Mk3 tank lacks an isolated ammunition compartment, increasing the risk to the crew if the armor is penetrated. Meanwhile, in late April, a Hezbollah FPV drone attacked a Black Hawk helicopter that was evacuating tank crew members.
Hezbollah also launched FPV drone attacks on two tanks from the 77th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade in the village of Et-Taybeh.
This Shiite settlement is located about 4 km from the border, in the area of Metula and Sha’ar HaGai, where a company of the 77th Battalion has recently been operating alongside fighters from the 12th Battalion of the Golani Brigade.
Due to technical issues, the crew had been repairing a tank in an open area near buildings. As a result of the drone strike, Sergeant Idan Fuchs was killed, and six other soldiers were wounded, four of them seriously.
