The sister of Maj. (res.) Harel Birnstock, who fell this week in an IED explosion in southern Lebanon, said in an interview with Channel 14 that he was dedicated to his soldiers. 'This was his last round as a company commander,' she said.
The sister of Maj. (res.) Harel Birnstock, who fell in an IED explosion in southern Lebanon earlier this week, has provided further insight into her brother's final days, revealing in an interview with Channel 14 that he was serving his last round as a company commander. "This was his last round as a company commander, the soldiers were always on his mind," she was quoted as saying. The remarks underscore the dedication of the 34-year-old officer from the community of Nokdim in Judea, who led troops in the 55th Paratroopers Reserve Brigade.
The Channel 14 interview follows a separate tribute by the sister, Kena Wax, on 103FM radio on Thursday, August 6, at 12:47 Jerusalem, as reported by The Zioneer. In that earlier interview, she described Birnstock as a person who connected people and brought positive energy. The thread of reports began with the IDF's clearance for publication on Wednesday evening, August 5, that two soldiers were killed by an IED in southern Lebanon. The Zioneer later reported that Birnstock and Chief Master Sgt. Tamir Vaknin, a combat medic, were the fallen, and that four other soldiers were seriously wounded. Funeral services were held on Thursday at Har HaMenuchot in Jerusalem, where family members delivered emotional eulogies. His widow vowed that their children would grow up in a happy home.
As The Zioneer has reported, Birnstock was a company commander in Battalion 2855 of the 55th Paratroopers Reserve Brigade, known as the "Tip of the Spear" Brigade. He was a resident of Nokdim in the Gush Etzion region of Judea and Samaria, and a father of children. The incident occurred when his unit entered a booby-trapped house in the village of Majdal Zoun, a tactic employed by Hezbollah operatives against IDF forces. The military has characterized the attack as a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
The investigation into the circumstances of the explosion, including whether the explosives were placed before or after the ceasefire took effect, remains ongoing. The condition of the four wounded soldiers has not been updated since initial reports.
8 developments
- StrongBrother of fallen soldier Tamir: 'He was the heart of the company, always in reserves since Oct. 7'
- StrongIDF confirms four reserve soldiers seriously wounded in incident that killed two troops
- StrongFallen soldier's widow gives heartbreaking eulogy: 'You told me to be strong on Oct 7. Now I don't know how.'
- StrongPresident Herzog mourns two fallen soldiers, hails them as 'heroes of Israel'
Source and signal
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