Reserve Sergeant Alexander Filin killed by explosive in southern Lebanon

The IDF said Wednesday that Reserve Sgt. Maj. Alexander Filin, 29, from Haifa, a fighter in the 36th Division headquarters, was killed the day before in combat in southern Lebanon. According to the military, an explosive device was triggered against the command post of the deputy commander of the 36th Division, and Filin became the 957th Israeli casualty since the start of the war on October 7, 2023.

Seven other IDF soldiers were wounded in the incident, three moderately and four lightly. The deputy division commander, a colonel, was among those moderately wounded. All of the wounded were evacuated for medical treatment, and their families were informed.

The attack happened around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, when a group of fighters from the deputy commander’s command post and the Givati Brigade were moving on foot and were hit by an explosive device. Four soldiers were injured and evacuated by helicopter. Minutes later, another explosive drone detonated on the evacuation vehicle, injuring one more soldier, who was also flown to hospital.

Afterward, IDF forces struck terror infrastructure in the area with artillery fire. The army said it is investigating whether the incident was caused by an Israeli explosive device, in what would be an operational accident, or by an enemy device. The incident took place during a ceasefire, hours after Hezbollah launched two explosive drones at an IDF force and evacuation team, injuring five soldiers, including one in serious condition.