IDF Captain David Hazut Killed in Clash with Hezbollah in South Lebanon

The IDF confirmed that Captain David Hazut, commander of a platoon in the Golani Brigade's 12th Battalion, was killed during a nighttime encounter with a Hezbollah militant in southern Lebanon. The incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. near Deir Sirian, where Hazut's unit came under fire from the militant. Hazut, a resident of Ashkelon and the only son of his mother, was killed instantly, and another soldier was lightly wounded and evacuated for medical treatment. The IDF responded with return fire and artillery strikes in the area, though it remains unclear if the militant was neutralized.

This clash marks the first fatal incident since the signing of an agreement with the Lebanese government. The tragedy follows another recent loss in the same region, where Sergeant Major Basel Sweid from Peki'in died three days earlier in a military accident involving a vehicle rollover, which also injured another soldier moderately. Additionally, four IDF soldiers were wounded in a separate attack when a militant threw a grenade at them; all were evacuated to Israel for treatment.

Captain Hazut had completed his officer training six months prior to his death and was previously a participant in the "Asher Ruach Bo" preparatory program. The IDF spokesperson authorized the publication of these details on June 28, 2026, at 12:33 p.m., highlighting the severity of the ongoing security challenges in southern Lebanon.