Two Israeli Reservists Killed in South Lebanon Bomb Blast Remembered by Family and Friends

Two Israeli reservists, Lt. Col. Harel Birnstok and Maj. Tamir Vaknin, died in a bomb explosion in southern Lebanon on Thursday. The blast occurred around noon inside a booby-trapped building in a village within the Israeli security zone, about eight kilometers from the border. The soldiers were part of the 28th Battalion, 55th Brigade, paratroopers in reserve, securing engineering work when they entered the rigged structure, which the IDF had not known about. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

Harel Birnstok's funeral is scheduled for 12:00 PM at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, while Tamir Vaknin's will be held at 7:20 PM at the military cemetery in Eilat. Birnstok's brother, Matan, described him as a family-oriented man full of life who loved running, traveling, and spending time with his wife and children. Birnstok's friend Michael recalled him as a devoted father of four and a dedicated engineer at Elbit who immediately left his civilian job to serve when called up.

Tamir Vaknin's brother Yoav said Tamir had a big heart and was beloved by his unit, known as the "heart of the company." Since the outbreak of conflict on October 7, he had completed many reserve days without hesitation. Tamir's cousin Tomer added that he had been on the front lines for three years, worked in cybersecurity, and though he lived in Tel Aviv recently, Eilat was always his home.

Defense Minister Israel Katz expressed deep condolences to the families, praising the reservists' commitment and sacrifice for Israel's security. Eilat's mayor, Eli Lankri, mourned Vaknin as one of the city's finest sons and extended support to his grieving family.

The incident highlights the ongoing dangers faced by Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon amid heightened tensions in the region.