Reserve Sgt. Maj. Alexander Filin, 29, of Haifa, was killed on Wednesday in combat in southern Lebanon. Filin served as a fighter in Division 36 headquarters, and the army notified his family of his death.
The killing came amid a separate drone attack incident in the same area. Around 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, an explosive drone detonated near a Givati Brigade tank in the Tabneh area of southern Lebanon. Shrapnel from the blast wounded four soldiers, who were evacuated by helicopter for treatment. A few minutes later, another explosive drone struck an evacuation vehicle and injured a fifth soldier, who was also evacuated.
One soldier was seriously wounded, two were moderately wounded, and two were lightly wounded. In response, the army fired artillery at infrastructure in the area.
Earlier this week, the IDF struck Lebanese cells after rockets, mortar shells, and anti-tank missiles were fired at forces operating on the ground. Those incidents caused no casualties. The Air Force also intercepted rockets fired toward the operating area without triggering alarms, and troops identified armed men approaching them in vehicles in several cases, prompting fighter jets to hit the targets. The fighting and casualties come amid reports of progress in ceasefire talks backed by the United States and Tehran.
