IDF Officer Killed in Lebanon Accident, Mourned by Loved Ones

Captain Eliab Haim Tzaflemus, 21, from Haifa, a combat officer in Battalion 603 of the 7th Brigade, was laid to rest on Friday after falling during operational activity in southern Lebanon the previous day. The incident occurred near the Litani River when the Humvee Tzaflemus was traveling in overturned. Three other IDF soldiers sustained light injuries in the crash and were evacuated to a hospital, with their families notified.

Inbar, Tzaflemus's girlfriend, bid a heartbreaking farewell at his grave, expressing her disbelief and pain. "My Eliab, my happiness, I can't find the right words. How can I eulogize you?" she wrote. "Everything feels like a nightmare I just want to wake up from. I was blessed with five years of pure love and butterflies in my stomach, and excitement every time you came home." She recalled his promises to return and his future plans, questioning why he was taken. "You called me your future wife," she added.

Lieutenant Colonel Ran, commander of Battalion 603, eulogized Tzaflemus, whom he promoted just three months prior. "Tzaf, it's hard to speak about you in the past tense. You were a responsible commander, you cared for every one of your subordinates, a pleasant, handsome officer who loved to laugh," Ran stated. "I lost a friend, the IDF lost an outstanding commander, and the people of Israel lost one of their finest sons." He shared memories of their time fighting in Lebanon, praising Tzaflemus's resilience and positive attitude.

Childhood friends Saar and Guy also paid tribute, recalling their bond since age six. "Eliab, my brother, what haven't we been through together since we were six?" they said. "I can't believe it, I'm trembling. I remember everything, the trips, the day I met Inbar, the laughs, and how we used to skip class together." They described him as a man of values who believed in his mission and was destined for leadership.

Karin Mizrahi, Tzaflemus's aunt, also spoke at the funeral, remembering his selfless nature and her pride in his path. "You always thought of everyone and not yourself. Thank you for letting me be a devoted aunt, now I am truly burning, burning all over," she said, expressing her inability to comprehend his loss. Mayor Yona Yahav of Haifa and the municipality's director attended the funeral, with Yahav stating that Tzaflemus "went out to protect his people and his country and will not return. He was part of the generation of heroes of the State of Israel, a generation of young people with dreams, aspirations, and a whole future ahead of them, who carry on their shoulders immense responsibility for the country's security and the peace of its citizens." Galit Savir, who taught Tzaflemus in high school, remembered him as an outstanding and responsible student with a mature outlook, determination, and leadership qualities, who frequently visited the school after graduation.

Separately, two other IDF soldiers were injured in a different operational accident in southern Lebanon, reportedly due to improper use of ammunition.