Four Israeli armored corps soldiers were killed in a tragic incident in southern Lebanon late Thursday into Friday last week, during an attempt to recover an engineering vehicle that had become stuck. The dead were Lt. Col. Dor Gedalya Ben Shimhon, Sgt. Maj. Lia Babbia, Sgt. Maj. Yoav Klein, and Sgt. Maj. Nove Havshush. Their families, friends, commanders and even strangers eulogized them, describing lives defined by service, family and character beyond the uniform.
The exact circumstances are still being examined, but the IDF believes a drone likely struck the rear compartment of the tank, causing severe damage and igniting it. Investigators are also checking whether an anti-tank missile was fired at the vehicle. The army said it was definitely not a routine operational accident.
Ben Shimhon, 32, from Kibbutz Beit Hashita, became commander of the 52nd Battalion in the 401st Brigade just two months before he was killed. He and his wife, senior officer Ariel, had two daughters, Ayala, 3, and Gaya, 1. He came from a family of fighters, with five brothers in combat service. At his funeral, Ariel said, “You gave me the 7 best years of my life.” On Independence Day, he had written to his soldiers that they would return to their mission, “motivated and lethal,” to defeat Israel’s enemies.
Havshush, 20, from Geva-Binyamin, was the third casualty from that community and the 64th from the Binyamin Regional Council since the war began. He was raised in Adam, studied at the Beit Yatir pre-military academy, and had recently completed tank commander training, planning to attend officers’ course later. His father said, “He was simply a good boy. Everyone loved him. He was always giving, helping and contributing. He was an angel walking among us.”
Klein, 21, from Herzliya, was a talented basketball player and graduate of Yovel High School, and played for Bnei Herzliya. His teacher said he was much more than an excellent student, calling him a warm, caring friend whose smile lit up every place he entered. Bnei Herzliya said he was an admired youth player who chose to go defend the country. Babbia, 20, from Hod Hasharon, was remembered by the city’s mayor as a student with “good eyes,” a vivid imagination and endless dreams, who loved music and the sea and wanted to make a difference.
