Commentator and former senior figure Hillel Bitton Rosen, in a joint social media post with activist Boaz Golan, expressed fury over the death of an Israeli soldier in southern Lebanon, saying "our fighters are ducks in a shooting gallery." The post reflects growing frustration over what critics describe as restrictive rules of engagement on the Lebanon front, which they argue leave troops vulnerable to Hezbollah attacks.
Friday afternoon: Hillel Bitton Rosen, a retired senior military figure and frequent commentator on IDF operations in southern Lebanon, published a scathing response to the death of an Israeli soldier in southern Lebanon. In a post co-tagged with activist Boaz Golan, he wrote: "Our fighters are ducks in a shooting gallery!"
The remark echoes a recurring critique by Bitton Rosen and other analysts who have argued that the current rules of engagement on the Lebanon front, under the ceasefire framework, leave Israeli troops dangerously restrained while Hezbollah continues to strike. In a separate post on June 16, Bitton Rosen called for either a free-fire policy for forces in Lebanon or a complete withdrawal.
As The Zioneer reported on Thursday, Thursday evening the IDF confirmed that Staff Sgt. Alexander Filin was killed by a Hezbollah IED during a foot patrol in the Litani area; the deputy commander of the 36th Division was wounded in the same incident. Earlier on Wednesday, journalist Yosef Haddad warned of wounded troops and urged a decisive response. Bitton Rosen's outburst Friday adds to a growing chorus of public figures charging that operational restrictions are costing lives. Israel's military has not formally altered the rules of engagement.
- DevelopingHillel Bitton Rosen calls for lifting fire restrictions on Israeli troops in Lebanon
- DevelopingIsraeli troops in Lebanon report shift in rules of engagement, liken themselves to 'ducks'
- DevelopingBitton Rosen: commanders must raise a red flag over dangerous fire restrictions in Lebanon
- DevelopingSecurity analyst warns fire restrictions turn troops into easy targets in south Lebanon
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