An Israeli combat engineering soldier was killed and another seriously wounded on Sunday after a Hezbollah explosive drone struck an armored engineering vehicle operating in southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces announced.
The fallen soldier was identified as Sgt. Nehorai Leizer, 19, from Eilat, a fighter in the 601st Combat Engineering Battalion of the 401st Armored Brigade, known as the “Iron Tracks” Division.
According to the IDF, the soldiers were operating in the western sector of southern Lebanon under the command of the 401st Brigade when the attack occurred shortly before 4:00 p.m.
Military officials are investigating whether the Hezbollah-operated explosive drone managed to penetrate the armored engineering vehicle from above — a tactic increasingly associated with precision drone warfare.
At the time of the strike, the armored personnel carrier, a Namer engineering evacuation vehicle used for casualty extraction missions, carried two soldiers: the driver and the vehicle commander.
Leizer, who served as the vehicle’s driver, was killed in the explosion. The commander sustained serious injuries and was evacuated by Israeli Air Force helicopter to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa.
Military medical teams on site provided immediate emergency treatment before the evacuation.
Vehicle Used in Previous Casualty Evacuation
The damaged armored vehicle had reportedly been used only days earlier during the evacuation of soldiers wounded in a separate Hezbollah drone attack that injured eight troops, including an operational documentarian accompanying Combat Engineering Battalion 601 forces.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit had released footage over the weekend showing that the earlier evacuation mission involved the same vehicle.
Hezbollah Launches Large-Scale Drone Assault
The strike formed part of a broader Hezbollah drone offensive that began Sunday morning and continued throughout the day.
According to Israeli military assessments, Hezbollah launched more than 30 drones toward Israeli communities, military outposts, and IDF forces operating inside Lebanon.
Israeli defense officials have expressed growing concern in recent months over Hezbollah’s expanding drone warfare capabilities, particularly the use of explosive UAVs capable of targeting armored vehicles and military infrastructure with high precision.
Eilat Mourns “One of Its Finest Sons”
The Municipality of Eilat announced that Leizer’s funeral would take place on Monday at 5:00 p.m. in the military section of the city cemetery.
In an official statement, the municipality described him as “one of the finest sons of Eilat” and highlighted his longstanding social and educational involvement in the city.
Leizer studied at the “Harei Eilat” elementary school and Goldwater High School, where he majored in theater and physical education. He was active in youth leadership movements and completed a year of national service before enlisting in the Combat Engineering Corps.
He is survived by his parents, Rotem and Lucien (“Luchi”) Leizer, and his older siblings, Mai and Roi.
His mother, Rotem, wrote in a public message following news of his death:
“They tore my heart out. Why, why, God, why?”
Israeli Political Leaders Pay Tribute
Political leaders across Israel issued condolences following the announcement of Leizer’s death.
Democrats Party chairman Yair Golan said:
“At this difficult moment, an entire nation bows its head, remembers his bravery, and must commit itself to being worthy of those who fell.”
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also paid tribute, describing Leizer as a courageous soldier who had operated alongside his comrades in southern Lebanon since the beginning of the war.
“The heart aches,” Bennett wrote. “He fought bravely in defense of the State of Israel.”
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