Basil Sweid
Master Sergeant (Res.) Basil Sweid (1994–2026) was an IDF reservist and administrative operations coordinator at Rambam Hospital who fell during operational activity in southern Lebanon.
Master Sergeant (Res.) Basil Sweid was a 32-year-old IDF reservist and a prominent member of the Druze community from Peki'in in the Upper Galilee. In his civilian life, Sweid served as an administrative operations coordinator at the Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, where colleagues described him as a dedicated and beloved professional. His death was cleared for publication on Thursday, June 25, 2026, following a fatal operational accident in the northern theater.
Sweid was killed late Wednesday night, June 24, at approximately 22:50, in the area of Rabb el-Thalathine in southern Lebanon. He was serving as a driver in the 75th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade ('Saar me-Golan') when an operational refueling truck overturned during a mission. The incident, which also resulted in the moderate injury of another soldier, is currently under IDF investigation to determine the technical or environmental factors involved.
His sacrifice was honored by both military and spiritual leaders. Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel, eulogized Sweid as a "heroic martyr" who viewed his extensive reserve service—totaling hundreds of days—as a national mission. Defense Minister Israel Katz also paid tribute, citing the "covenant of life" and the shared destiny between the Druze community and the State of Israel. Sweid’s home town of Peki'in is noted for its historic Jewish-Druze ties and its consistently high rates of combat enlistment. His funeral was held in Peki'in at 17:00 on Thursday, June 25, 2026.