Eight IDF Soldiers Killed in Southern Lebanon Amid Intensified Operations Against Hezbollah

Jerusalem, 2 October, 2024 (TPS) -- The Israel Defense Forces announced that eight soldiers were killed during intense combat operations in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah terrorists on Wednesday. The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit has now cleared the names of the fallen soldiers for publication, and the families have been notified.

“We are in the midst of a difficult war against Iran’s axis of evil, which seeks to destroy us. This will not happen—because we will stand together, and with God’s help, we will prevail together,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in response to this tragic loss. “I wish to send my deepest condolences to the families of our heroes who fell today in Lebanon. May God avenge their blood. May their memory be blessed.”

Eight IDF soldiers tragically lost their lives in fierce battles in southern Lebanon. Among the fallen are Captain Harel Etinger, 23, from Eli, and Captain Eitan Yitzhak Oster, 22, from Modiin, both team commanders in the Egoz Unit of the Commando Brigade.

Captain Itai Ariel Giat, 23, from Shoham, an officer in the Yahalom Unit of the Combat Engineering Corps, also lost his life alongside Staff Sergeants Noam Barzilay, 22, from Kochav Yair, Or Mantzur, 21, from Beit Aryeh, and Nazar Itkin, 21, from Kiryat Ata, all fighters in the Egoz Unit.

The Golani Brigade also suffered the loss of Sergeant Almken Terefe, 21, from Jerusalem, and Sergeant Ido Broyer, 21, from Nes Ziona, both fighters in the Golani Reconnaissance Battalion.

The soldiers were killed in two separate incidents earlier today. The first occurred when a force from the Commando Brigade’s Egoz Unit encountered Hezbollah militants in a building in the village of Al-Odaisseh, southern Lebanon. The soldiers faced heavy fire from both close-range and long-distance attacks, including anti-tank missiles and mortar rounds. The incident claimed the lives of five Egoz soldiers, while an officer and four other soldiers were seriously wounded during the same engagement. Despite the challenging conditions, including difficult terrain and weather, all casualties were evacuated to hospitals in Israel.

The second incident involved a mortar attack on a Golani Brigade force, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and the serious injury of another Golani fighter.

In a separate event, a combat medic from the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion was also seriously injured during operations in northern Israel.

The funeral of Captain Eitan Yitzhak Oster, who is survived by his parents and six siblings, took place on the eve of Rosh Hashanah in the military section of Mount Herzl.

As the nation enters the holiday season, beginning on Wednesday evening with the onset of Rosh Hashanah, the IDF is intensifying its operations to counter Hezbollah threats in Lebanon to ensure the safe return of tens of thousands of northern residents who have been evacuated from their homes.

After the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, the Iran-backed Hezbollah began firing rockets and launching drones at northern Israel communities, killing 49 people. According to figures released by the government on Sept. 29, more than 68,000 residents of northern Israel are displaced from their homes. Hezbollah leaders have repeatedly said they would continue the attacks to prevent Israelis from returning to their homes.

Israel’s war goals include securely returning northern residents to their homes.

Israeli officials demand that Hezbollah to be disarmed and removed from southern Lebanon in compliance with UN Security Council resolution 1701 which ended the Second Lebanon War of 2006. This includes all areas south of the Litani River such as the cities of Nabatieh and Tyre, as well as the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon.