Sgt. Rotem Yanai, 20, from Givat Ada, was killed by an explosive drone launched by Hezbollah during operational activity in northern Israel, the IDF announced on Thursday.
Yanai was a welfare NCO in the 435th Battalion of the Givati Brigade.
Five other IDF soldiers were wounded in the incident, including two reservists serving on the security team of Goren, the nearest town.
The attack occurred on Wednesday afternoon, when Hezbollah simultaneously launched three explosive drones toward Shomera and the nearby military post.
The first drone exploded, igniting a fire in the military area. Goren security team members were dispatched to the site with firefighting equipment.
Shortly after that, Hezbollah launched two more explosive drones. Yanai ran to the protected area, but the drone exploded just as she entered the building, killing her and wounding five others.
The two reservist soldiers were moderately and seriously wounded and evacuated to Nahariya Hospital; the other three wounded soldiers sustained only minor injuries and were not evacuated for further medical treatment.
Netanyahu offers his condolences to Yanai's family
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered his sympathies to Yanai’s family in a public statement.
“My wife and I extend our deepest condolences to the family of the late Sgt. Rotem Yanai, of blessed memory, who fell near the northern border,” Netanyahu said. “On behalf of all citizens of Israel, we embrace Rotem’s family and pray for the speedy recovery of those wounded in this difficult incident.”
Multiple Hezbollah explosive drones impact in northern Israel, Hezbollah drone strikes Metula home
Several Hezbollah drones exploded in northern Israel on Wednesday afternoon, the IDF announced.
On Monday, the IDF announced that a Hezbollah drone launched from Lebanon had struck the roof of a home in Metula, causing damage to the building but no injuries.
The Upper Galilee Regional Council confirmed in its own Monday statement that no one had been injured in the strike, adding that a fire had started at the impact site.
Later on Monday, the region experienced several drone intrusions within approximately one hour. As a result, there were two reported shrapnel falls in Shomera.
Shir Perets contributed to this report.