Two Israeli Combat Engineers Severely Wounded by Hezbollah Drone in Lebanon, Son of Veteran Also Injured

Two soldiers from the IDF's Combat Engineering Unit (Yahalom) were critically injured early Saturday morning by a Hezbollah explosive drone in the Ali Taher ridge area of Lebanon. Both remain hospitalized in serious condition in the intensive care unit at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa. A third soldier, a 23-year-old officer also wounded in the incident, improved overnight and was moved to the orthopedic ward with moderate injuries. All three are expected to undergo surgery in the coming days.

One of the critically injured soldiers is Ohad Elimelech from Ahuzat Barak in the Jezreel Valley, whose family has authorized the release of his name and requested public prayers for his recovery. The other severely wounded soldier, identified only as A., is 21 years old from Givat Chen in the Sharon region. His parents, Haim and Michal Weiss, along with his sisters and grandmother, have been at his bedside. Haim Weiss recounted that his son had aspired to join the Engineering Corps and shared that he himself was wounded in Lebanon in 1994 near the village of Sujud while serving with the Paratroopers. He was also evacuated by helicopter to Rambam. The grandmother recalled being at Rambam’s ICU over 30 years ago when her son was injured in Lebanon, describing those times as difficult and expressing hope in her grandson’s strength.

Haim Weiss emphasized the severity of his son's condition, noting significant blood loss and a real threat to his life, but praised the medical staff and credited the rapid field treatment with saving the soldiers’ lives. Soldiers from Yahalom who were present during the attack have been supporting the families, explaining the limited options available when facing an incoming explosive drone.

Rambam’s ICU still treats two other soldiers seriously wounded in a deadly explosive attack in the village of Majdal Zun in southern Lebanon, an incident that claimed the lives of two reservists, Captain (res.) Harel Birnstok and Sergeant Major (res.) Tamir Vaknin. One of those still hospitalized is Dolev Amir from Karmiel. Two additional wounded soldiers from that event have been transferred to hospitals in central Israel after their conditions improved.