Israeli commando killed, 3 others wounded in southern Lebanon

The slain soldier had dreamed of serving in an elite IDF combat unit since his teens.

By World Israel News Staff

An Israeli soldier serving in an elite commando unit was killed and three of his comrades were wounded by an explosive drone launched by Hezbollah near Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, a strategic position recently captured by the Israeli military.

The fallen soldier was identified as Staff Sgt. Adam Tzarfati, 20, of Rosh HaAyin in central Israel. Tzarfati served in the elite Unit 212 Maglan reconnaissance force.

According to a preliminary IDF investigation, Tzarfati’s unit had left the vicinity of Beaufort Castle and was operating on a nearby ridge near the village of Yochmor when it was targeted by an explosive drone launched by Hezbollah.

Tzarfati’s bereaved mother, Mali, told Hebrew-language outlet Ynet that her son was “a beloved child, adored by both family and friends.”

She added that he was a boy “full of life and love,” and that his death was a “loss to the world.”

Tzarfati’s father, Shai, said his son had dreamed of becoming a combat soldier in the IDF since the age of 15.

He noted that Tzarfati enlisted just two weeks after graduating from high school.

His acceptance into the elite commando unit was “the happiest day of his life,” his father said.

“Tzarfati fought with courage and heroism to defend our cities and towns against the Hezbollah terrorist organization,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement eulogizing the fallen soldier.

“We share in his family’s profound grief and pray for the full recovery of our wounded from this difficult incident.”

Tzarfati is the 13th Israeli service member killed since the implementation of a Trump administration-brokered ceasefire in mid-April.

Since the ceasefire took effect, 13 soldiers and one civilian Defense Ministry contractor working in southern Lebanon have been killed.

Tzarfati’s death came just one day after another soldier, Michael Tyukin, was killed in an explosive drone attack.