Fire and smoke ripped across Israel’s northern frontier as a Hezbollah anti‑tank missile slammed into a Merkava main battle tank, in what the group claims is its first confirmed direct hit “to avenge” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Dramatic footage circulating on Hezbollah‑linked channels shows the tank cresting a ridge near the Lebanon border before a guided missile streaks in, triggering a massive explosion that engulfs the turret in flames. Moments later, secondary blasts suggest ammunition inside the vehicle detonated.

The IDF confirms “a serious incident involving an armored unit,” acknowledging casualties but refusing to release full details while families are notified. Military censors have partially blocked local footage, but residents report intense shelling and airstrikes on suspected Hezbollah launch sites in southern Lebanon within minutes of the hit.

Hezbollah’s military wing is hailing the strike as “the opening account for Khamenei’s blood,” framing it as retaliation for Israeli attacks on Iranian and Hezbollah commanders. The group vows that “dozens more” anti‑tank teams are now in position along the frontier.

Israeli officials warn that any further missile ambushes on armor or border communities will trigger “devastating, disproportionate” responses, hinting at a broad ground and air campaign.

Regional analysts say this single burning tank may prove far more than a battlefield statistic: a psychological victory for Hezbollah, a shock to Israel’s famed armor corps, and a dangerous step closer to full‑scale war on the northern front.