The funeral of Chief Master Sgt. (res.) Tamir Vaknin, 33, a soldier in the 55th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade (Battalion 2855) who fell in combat in southern Lebanon, will take place at 19:00 at the military cemetery in Eilat. The Eilat municipality said it will distribute Israeli flags at the entrance from 18:00. Mayor Eli Lanker expressed condolences, calling Vaknin 'one of the city's finest sons.'
Chief Master Sgt. (res.) Tamir Vaknin, 33, a fighter in the 55th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade (Battalion 2855), was killed in combat in southern Lebanon on Wednesday. The Eilat municipality announced on Thursday morning that his funeral will be held at 19:00 at the military cemetery in Eilat, with flags to be distributed from 18:00.
As The Zioneer reported earlier today, the IDF cleared the names of Vaknin and Maj. (res.) Harel Birenstock for publication on Thursday morning. The two soldiers fell in the same incident, which also left four other soldiers from the same company wounded. Birenstock, 34, a company commander from Nokdim in Judea and Samaria, was also laid to rest separately.
The 55th Brigade has been engaged in ongoing operations to neutralize Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon. The incident that killed Vaknin and Birenstock occurred during operational activity, though specific details of the engagement have not been released by the IDF.
The loss of Vaknin and Birenstock comes amid a period of heavy fighting in southern Lebanon, where the IDF has sustained several casualties in recent weeks, including the June 18 IED attack that killed Staff Sgt. (res.) Alexander Filin and wounded seven officers and soldiers from the 36th Division.
3 developments
- DevelopingSister eulogizes fallen reservist Alexander Filin: 'I always knew you'd be there for me'
- DevelopingCompany commander reports for reserve duty one week after burying his brother, Lt. Col. Dor Ben Shimon
- DevelopingFather eulogizes Captain Eitan Lamberg, fallen in Lebanon
- DevelopingThe Zioneer republishes interview with fallen reservist Alexander Filin
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