IDF announces four soldiers killed in southern Lebanon

Four soldiers were killed in combat in southern Lebanon, the IDF announced on Monday, as Israel kept lines tight on the Syrian border to be prepared for anything that might affect the stability there.

The military named the fallen as Maj. (res.) Evgeny Zinershain, 43, from Zichron Ya’acov; Capt. (res.) Sagi Ya’akov Rubinshtein, 31, from Lavi; St.-Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Binyamin Destaw Negose, 28, from Bet Shemesh; and Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Erez Ben Efraim, 25, from Ramat Gan.

Initial investigations indicate that the four went into an underground spot in the area where they were operating, to clear it out of any weapons. They were struck by an IDF trap that had been placed there. According to N12, the army has opened an investigation into the incident and will inquire as to why they entered in the first place and whether they knew about the trap.

The four served in the 9263rd Battalion of the 226th Brigade, which is positioned in southern Lebanon as part of the 60-day period included in the ceasefire. According to Israeli media reports, while conducting searches in the area, the troops entered an underground space in which weaponry was hidden, as a result of which an explosion occurred, killing the four soldiers.

Evgeny’s wife, Alexandra, told Ynet, “It is impossible to grasp. We had an incredible friendship, he took such care of me and the children, they were his whole world… We built a beautiful home.”

She said that her husband’s duties to Israel’s security were crystal clear to him.

“I loved his smile; that is how I fell in love with him. He was so proud of our family, he was involved, a really brilliant man. He said we have to give everything to the state, to lead the fight; that it is our duty to do so, so that the children have meaningful service experiences later on.”

Negose is the 17th casualty from the city of Beit Shemesh since the war began. Mayor Shmuel Greenberg said that his tears hadn’t dried since the last casualty, and already there is another one.

Ben Efraim was from Ramat Gan, whose mayor, Carmel Shama-Hacohen, quoted the family who spoke of a unique, exceptional, beautiful child. A friend who worked with him told Ynet that Erez was like everyone’s little brother in the office.

Rubinshtein, a father of three, spent most of the last year in reserve duty. A friend of his from Kibbutz Lavi told Ynet that he was “so happy, Zionist, value-driven; a patriot who loved this state and the people in it. He always took the call.”

Soldiers killed since beginning of war

According to the IDF's tally, the deaths of Maj. (res.) Zinershain, Capt. (res.) Rubinshtein, St.-Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Negose and Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Ben Efraim, raises the total of soldiers killed on or since October 7 of last year to 813.