Reservist killed in Hezbollah blast in southern Lebanon, seven more soldiers wounded

The IDF cleared for publication on Thursday that Reserve Master Sergeant Alexander Filin, 29, from Haifa, a fighter in Division 36 headquarters, was killed by a Hezbollah explosive device in southern Lebanon. Seven other fighters were wounded in the blast, including three in moderate condition and four lightly injured, and all were evacuated to hospital.

According to the military, the incident took place today at about 5:00 p.m. in the al-Litani area near the village of At-Taybe in southern Lebanon. A team of soldiers from the Division 36 deputy commander’s command post and the Golani Brigade was moving on foot in the area when an explosive charge was detonated against them.

Filin was killed in the explosion. Among the moderately wounded are a senior officer with the rank of colonel, who serves as deputy commander of Division 36, and a reserve battalion commander in Brigade 556 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Also moderately wounded were another reserve combat officer and a reserve soldier.

The lightly wounded include a warrant officer, two reserve soldiers, and a reserve female soldier. The IDF said it is investigating the circumstances of the incident and how the device was triggered. The blast came just hours after five soldiers were wounded by two explosive drones that struck a force and then the evacuation team, leaving one soldier badly injured and the others moderately or lightly hurt.