Heavy fire was opened on the force by terrorists who had been hiding inside a nearby building.
By United with Israel Staff
The Israel Defense Forces cleared for publication that an IDF soldier was killed during fighting in southern Lebanon early Thursday morning.
The soldier was later identified as Staff Sgt. Ori Greenberg, 21, from Petah Tikva, a fighter in the reconnaissance unit of the elite Golani Brigade.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours as Golani reconnaissance troops were advancing under cover toward terror targets inside a village in southern Lebanon. At approximately 2:10 a.m., heavy fire was opened on the force by terrorists who had been hiding inside a nearby building.
Greenberg, who was at the front of the unit, was hit by the gunfire and was killed in the exchange. Two additional soldiers were wounded in the incident and were evacuated under fire to a helicopter landing zone before being transported to hospitals in Israel for further treatment.
Following the attack, Israeli forces returned heavy fire toward the source of the shooting. Soldiers identified the terrorists and eliminated several of them, preventing further casualties among the unit. The IDF said the fighting took place in dense, built-up terrain where terrorists use civilian structures to carry out ambushes and attacks on Israeli forces.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement following the incident, saying, “My wife and I, together with all the citizens of Israel, share in the deep sorrow of the family of Golani reconnaissance fighter Staff Sgt. Ori Greenberg, who fell in battle in southern Lebanon. He fought with bravery and courage to defend our northern border.”
The mayor of Petah Tikva also paid tribute to Greenberg, describing him as “one of the finest sons of the city, a brave fighter who went out to defend the people of Israel and did not return,” adding that “the entire city bows its head and mourns his loss.”
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