IDF announces death of Major (reserve) Itai Azoulai, killed in Hezbollah attack

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported the death of reserve Major Itai Azoulai, 25, from the West Bank town of Oranit.

He was killed during fighting on the Lebanese border while serving in the elite mobility unit 5515. In the same incident, two other soldiers from the Egoz battalion were seriously injured.

The attack took place early Monday morning when Hezbollah terrorists targeted the soldiers from fortified positions, using machine guns, anti-tank missiles and mortars. IDF troops engaged in close-range firefights, but the situation worsened when the terrorists also launched mortar attacks against rescue teams evacuating the wounded.

In retaliation, the IDF carried out airstrikes on nearby access roads and used tank fire to secure the area, resulting in the elimination of around 20 Hezbollah fighters.

Major Azoulai is the tenth Israeli soldier to lose his life in clashes on the Lebanese border since the ground incursion began last week.