After Deadly Lebanon Incident, Battalion Deputy Commander Sends Emotional Letter to Soldiers

Following the deaths of Battalion 52 commander Lt. Col. Dor Ben Shimon and three members of his team, Sgt. Naveh Havshush, Sgt. Yoav Klein and Sgt. Liav Kababia, who were hit by an explosive drone, the battalion’s deputy commander, Maj. A., sent a letter to the soldiers describing the past days as some of the hardest the unit has ever known.

In his message, Maj. A. said the battalion had lost its commander and fighters who fell in combat, adding that “the pain is great, the loss is immense, and all of our hearts are with the bereaved families.” He also addressed the effort to recover the bodies, writing that despite the grief, the unit completed what he called its most important duty by bringing its comrades home.

Maj. A. said that after “many efforts and under complex conditions,” the fallen were extracted from the battlefield and brought for burial in Israel. He said the soldiers would accompany them on their final journey and pledged that their legacy, spirit and example would continue to guide the battalion.

He framed the moment as one of mourning and unity, saying the battalion remains strong and that the mission continues. “We will keep operating in combat with all our strength, with responsibility, professionalism and camaraderie,” he wrote, adding that the force will continue “until we are stopped, and as much as we are needed for any mission.”