IDF Sergeant Nir Ben Ari Killed in South Lebanon Clash; 13 Wounded

Sergeant First Class Nir Ben Ari, 21, from Kerem Maharal, was killed overnight in fighting in southern Lebanon. He died in the village of Tebnine during an operation by a Commando Brigade force that was hit directly by mortar fire and an explosive drone. The incident took place around 1:30 a.m., and 13 other fighters were wounded, including two seriously.

Ben Ari served as company sergeant major in the Maglan unit. He was due to turn 22 in about nine days, and later this month he was supposed to begin his pre-discharge leave from the army. His family said he had already bought a ticket to Thailand for mid-August. Friends and relatives described him as an outstanding student who was always happy and surrounded by friends and love.

He is survived by two brothers, Guy and Shai, and a sister, Shir. In response to the attack, the IDF struck targets in southern Lebanon. The killing came amid a series of deadly incidents in the same area, and the day before, the military had cleared for publication that four IDF soldiers were killed the night before in the same village, including Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Shimon, 32, commander of Battalion 52 in the 401st Brigade, from Kibbutz Beit Hashita.

At the school Ben Ari attended, staff said in a statement that they were devastated by the news, noted that he graduated in 2022, studied biology and physics, and said his family is deeply connected to the school community. Funeral arrangements had not yet been finalized, but the burial may take place after Shabbat ends in Kerem Maharal. The school said its management, counseling staff, and psychologists were available to support students and the family.