The army cleared for publication the name of the third soldier killed in the tank disaster on Thursday night, Staff Sgt. Liav Kvabia, 20, from Hod HaSharon. Two other soldiers killed in the same incident were Staff Sgt. Yoav Klein and Lt. Col. Dor Ben Shimon, along with a fourth fighter whose name is still withheld.
Hod HaSharon Mayor Amir Kochavi eulogized Kvabia, saying he had "good eyes, a vivid imagination and endless dreams," loved music and the sea, and always wanted to make an impact and be the best he could be. He said Kvabia served with Tank Battalion 52 in different sectors and through many dangerous incidents until the tank was severely hit in the last one.
Herzliya Mayor Yair Fisher mourned Klein, describing him as a city native and Hevel High School graduate, a talented and beloved basketball player who had been a student just three years ago. Fisher said Klein chose to serve and defend Israel, and added, "No words can comfort such a loss." He also said Herzliya bows its head and will remember Klein’s smile and sacrifice.
Earlier, the army had named Staff Sgt. Nir Ben Ari, 21, from Kerem Maharal, who was killed overnight in southern Lebanon by Hezbollah rocket fire and explosive drones. Ben Ari served as a combat soldier and platoon sergeant in the Mגלan commando unit and was due to leave the army at the end of the month. Family members said he loved life, his family and friends, and was due to take an motorcycle test and fly to Thailand in mid-August.
Ben Ari’s funeral is scheduled for Monday at 4:00 p.m. at the cemetery in Kerem Maharal. Hevel HaCarmel Regional Council head Asif Izak called him a model young man, an excellent student, athlete, fighter and commander. Hevel Galim High School principal Alfa Weinberger said Ben Ari graduated in 2022, studied biology and physics, and noted that the school community had now suffered a second devastating loss after Staff Sgt. Noam Hamburger was killed there last month.
Also reported three days ago was the death of Reserve Staff Sgt. Alexander Filin, 29, from Haifa, a soldier in Division 36 headquarters, who was killed in combat in southern Lebanon after an explosive device was detonated against the division deputy commander’s command post. His funeral will be held Sunday at 12:00 p.m. in Haifa. Seven other soldiers were wounded in that incident, three moderately and four lightly, including the division deputy commander, a colonel. Since the northern campaign resumed about three months ago under Operation "Roar of the Lion," 35 IDF soldiers have been killed, 22 of them after the ceasefire was announced. Since the war began, the names of 961 IDF dead have been published, including 473 killed in Gaza and 82 in southern Lebanon.
