IDF Suffers First Eight Casualties in Lebanon Ground Operation

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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that eight soldiers were killed in clashes with Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists in three separate incidents in southern Lebanon on October 2.  The fatalities were reported as the IDF expanded its ground operation north of the Israeli border.

The first fatality announced earlier in the day was Capt. Eitan Itzhak Oster, 22, a team commander with the Egoz Commando Unit. Later, the IDF announced the deaths of four additional Egoz commandos who died in the same incident that The Times of Israel reported as “a gun battle with Hezbollah operatives in a southern Lebanon village.” The slain soldiers included Capt. Harel Etinger, 23, a team commander; Sgt. 1st Class Noam Barzilay, 22; Sgt. 1st Class Or Mantzur, 21; and Sgt. 1st Class Nazar Itkin, 21. Capt. Itai Ariel Giat, 23 — an officer with the Yahalon Combat Engineering Unit — was also killed. Another officer and four soldiers were seriously wounded in the incident, which Hezbollah sources told NBC News was the result of an ambush. In a separate incident, two soldiers with the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit — Staff Sgt. Almken Terefe, 21, and Staff Sgt. Ido Broyer, 21 — were killed, and another was seriously wounded. An IDF combat medic with the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion was seriously wounded in a third incident.

According to the IDF’s probe of the incident, the soldiers were killed when the Egoz unit entered a village near Israel’s border to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure. Inside one of the buildings, the commandos encountered Hezbollah terrorists and began exchanging fire. Dozens of other Hezbollah operatives began to fire at the troops, joining the fight from surrounding areas and firing anti-tank missiles and mortars at the soldiers. The fighting continued as wounded troops were being extracted, with Hezbollah firing mortars at the medical evacuation. An Israeli Air Force drone carried out airstrikes, and tanks shelled the area during the incident, leading to the IDF eventually gaining control of the area. According to the IDF’s assessment, more than 20 Hezbollah terrorists were killed during the engagement. All the wounded were successfully evacuated and taken to hospitals.

Expert Analysis

“The eight Israeli soldiers who fell in battle today died protecting their country. If only the Lebanese — the state, the alleged dissidents, and the opposition — were willing to do for their country as much as IDF soldiers do for Israel, then they would have acted to restrain Hezbollah long ago, obviating the need for a tragic war.” — David Daoud, FDD Senior Fellow

“Israeli forces are encountering a more skilled and well-equipped adversary in Lebanon than they did in Gaza. Hezbollah has spent years developing tunnel systems, preparing ambushes, and mastering the local terrain. By contrast, the Israeli military has also devoted significant time to overcoming potential challenges awaiting them in southern Lebanon. Although troop losses could be substantial, the war goal of returning displaced civilians to northern Israel is undoubtedly within their capabilities to achieve.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

Related Analysis

“The impact of Israeli operations on Hezbollah’s organizational structure,” by David Daoud and Ahmad Sharawi

“IDF begins Lebanon ground operation, Iran launches 180 ballistic missiles at Israel,” by Seth J. Frantzman

“Iran Escalates Multi-Front Assault on Israel as Missiles Rain on Jewish State,” FDD Flash Brief