Israel army says five soldiers killed in Lebanon combat, total troop deaths reach 19

(From L-R) First Sgt. Yehudah Dror, First Sgt. Yakov Hillel, First Sgt. Elyashiv Eitan Wieder, Cap. Elad Siman Tov and Maj. Ofek Bachar. Image Courtesy: IDF

The Israeli military announced on Thursday that five soldiers were killed in combat in southern Lebanon, bringing the total number of troop deaths to 19 since Israel began its raids into Lebanon last month.

“Five servicemen fell during combat in southern Lebanon,” AFP quoted a military statement as saying without elaborating on the circumstances of their deaths.

According to a Times of Israeal report, the slain soldiers from the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit have been identified as Company Commander Maj. Ofek Bachar, 24, from Nes Ziona, Team Commander Cap. Elad Siman Tov, 23, from Tzofim, Squad leader First Sgt. Elyashiv Eitan Wieder, 22, from Jerusalem; First Sgt. Yakov Hillel, 21, from Jerusalem, and Yehudah Dror Yahalom, 21, from Hebron.

Another officer and two soldiers were seriously injured in the incident, added the report.

Several other soldiers also sustained severe injuries during battles in southern Lebanon.

In one particular incident, an officer and two combat engineers from the Etzioni Brigade’s 8173rd Battalion were critically injured, along with another soldier from the battalion’s logistical unit, due to an anti-tank missile attack.

A soldier from the 12th Battalion of the Golani Brigade was seriously hurt in a firefight with Hezbollah fighters.

In the southern Gaza Strip, a soldier from the 450th Battalion of the Bislamach Brigade, the same unit responsible for killing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, was also seriously injured in a confrontation with terrorists.

The injured soldiers have been transported to hospitals, and the IDF has provided updates to the families of both the deceased and the injured.

With inputs from agencies