The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that Capt. David Hazut, 21, a platoon commander in the 12th Battalion of the Golani Brigade, was killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon overnight.
According to the IDF, the incident occurred at approximately 2:00 a.m. during an operation near the village of Deir Sirane, where Golani forces entered a suspicious site. During the operation, a Hezbollah militant opened fire, fatally wounding Capt. Hazut. Another Israeli soldier sustained light injuries.
Search Underway for Hezbollah Gunman
Following the attack, Israeli forces launched an extensive search for the assailant while carrying out strikes against targets in the surrounding area.
The IDF said efforts to locate and eliminate the Hezbollah operative remain ongoing as troops continue operating in the sector.
A Determined Officer Who Chose Combat Service
Capt. Hazut, from Ashkelon, was a graduate of ORT Afridar High School and is survived by his mother and sister.
Family members described him as a determined young man who lost his father to cardiac arrest at the age of 16. Despite his mother's concerns about him serving in a combat role, he insisted on joining the IDF and fulfilling his ambition of becoming a frontline officer.
After completing officer training, Hazut was initially assigned to a staff position but successfully requested a transfer to a combat command role, where he ultimately led soldiers in operational missions along Israel's northern border.
Ashkelon Mourns the Fallen Commander
Ashkelon Mayor Tomer Glam paid tribute to Hazut, describing him as a courageous officer who fell while defending the State of Israel.
"We bow our heads in grief over the loss of Capt. David Hazut, a son of our city, who gave his life in defense of the homeland," the mayor said, extending condolences to his family.
Capt. Hazut's death comes just days after seven Israeli soldiers were laid to rest following separate incidents during operations in Lebanon, underscoring the continuing intensity of the fighting along Israel's northern front despite ongoing military efforts against Hezbollah infrastructure.
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