Defense Minister Israel Katz extended condolences to the family of Staff Sgt. (res.) Alexander Filin, 29, who fell in battle in southern Lebanon. Katz noted that Filin repeatedly volunteered for reserve duty out of a deep sense of mission, and wished a full recovery to the soldiers wounded in the same incident.
Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday morning issued a statement mourning the death of Staff Sgt. (res.) Alexander Filin, 29, who was killed in a battle in southern Lebanon. Katz said Filin "reported for reserve duty time and again out of a deep sense of mission" and sent a message of support to the soldiers wounded in the incident, including the deputy commander of the 36th Division, a colonel.
The thread on Filin's death began earlier Thursday, at 05:57 Jerusalem, when the IDF released his name, noting he fell in battle in southern Lebanon. By 07:10 Jerusalem, the IDF confirmed a colonel-rank deputy division commander was among the wounded from the same incident. The Haifa mayor eulogized Filin at 07:32 Jerusalem, and at 07:34 Jerusalem The Zioneer reported the IDF specified he was killed by a Hezbollah-planted explosive device near the village of Tayba; seven soldiers were wounded. A related bulletin at 07:10 Jerusalem described the incident as the second explosive-device attack on Israeli forces in the area within hours. Across the thread, details evolved from an initial IDF statement to corroborated accounts naming the weapon and location.
As The Zioneer previously reported in background context, the incident in southern Lebanon follows a pattern of Hezbollah IED attacks on IDF forces operating in the area, including one on Wednesday that wounded a colonel and three other soldiers. The fallen soldier's family and the municipality of Haifa, where Filin was from, have received official condolences.
What remains unresolved: the condition of the seven wounded soldiers has not been updated since the initial IDF release. No official statement has been issued indicating whether the circumstances of the incident are under further investigation.
3 developments
- ConfirmedIDF clears publication: Staff Sgt. (res.) Alexander Filin, 29, killed in southern Lebanon
- StrongIsraeli Minister Ben Gvir Eulogizes Fallen Reservist; Security Official Warns Response Fell Short
- StrongOne reserved soldier killed, seven wounded by explosive device in southern Lebanon
- DevelopingFallen soldier's father calls for immediate release of fellow soldier who accidentally shot his son in Lebanon
Source and signal
- Internal intake