Hi,
The 1st fallen soldier in south Lebanon happened today. The first announcement from spokesman was of a single soldier, Captain Eitan Itzhak Oster z”l. But later this day, we realized it was not only one single soldier, but 8 deaths in a single fight against Hezbollah terrorists in south Lebanon.
It was an ambush of Hezbollah terrorists. As fighters we are thought to storm the enemy, in order to kill it and eliminate the threat. That was what Hezbollah terrorist hoped the soldiers to do. And as they stormed forward, the terrorist pulled back.
The team, which included mainly elite soldiers from Egoz unit, got into this trap and some of the soldier got died or got injured. The terrorist also knew more force will come to rescue and bomb it, creating more casualties.
We all knew it will happen sooner or later. Even after endless airstrike by the IAF aircraft, the pager attack, the walkies talkie attack, the IDF artillery booming, all for the past year of war in the north – there are still Hezbollah terrorists in south Lebanon.
There will be a ground maneuver to eliminate Hezbollah capabilities, at least in the first couple of km from the border. And this maneuver will cost in the lives of soldiers (we can at least hope not many, and not be of them).
Take Care
Gad
The fallen soldiers in the ambush today: top row, left to right – Sergeant first class Nazar Itkin z”l, Captain Eitan Itzhak Oster z”l, (who was declread as 1st fallen soldier in south Lebanon ground maneuver), Sergeant first class Or Mantzur z”l, First sergent Almken Terefe z”l; Bottom row, left to right – Captain Itai Ariel Giat z”l , First sergent Ido Broyer z”l, Captain Harel Etinger z”l, Sergeant first class Noam Barzilay z”l (Source: IDF spokerman)