An Israel Defense Forces soldier was mortally wounded in a Hezbollah attack near the Jewish state’s border with Lebanon, the military confirmed on Monday.
Command Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Alexander Glovanyov, 47, from the central city of Petah Tikvah, served as a heavy transport vehicle driver in the 6924th Transport Battalion of the Technological and Logistics Directorate.
According to Israel’s Ynet news outlet, Glovanyov was killed on Sunday when a suicide drone launched by the Iranian-backed terrorist organization impacted inside Israeli territory.
The total death toll among Israeli troops since the start of the War of Redemption—which was triggered by the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border massacre—now stands at 943.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sarah in a statement extended their “heartfelt condolences” to Glovanyov’s family.
“Alexander, 47 at the time of his death, volunteered for reserve duty out of commitment and a deep sense of mission to defend the State of Israel,” the premier stated. “Together with all the citizens of Israel, we embrace the Glovanyov family and share in their profound grief.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated, “On behalf of the entire defense establishment, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family of Command Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Alexander Glovanyov, who was killed during an operational activity near the Lebanese border.
“Alexander served in the reserves out of a true sense of mission in defense of the State of Israel and the residents of the north,” Katz continued. “I embrace his family during this difficult time and wish to strengthen our heroic soldiers who continue their mission against the Hezbollah terrorist organization.”
“May Alexander’s memory be a blessing,” he added.
Hezbollah throughout the day on Sunday launched attacks targeting IDF soldiers in Southern Lebanon, as well as Israeli civilian communities in the north.
The aerial assaults constituted “another violation of the ceasefire understandings by the Hezbollah terrorist organization,” noted the military.
In response, the IDF carried out airstrikes in several areas of Southern Lebanon, hitting 20-plus terrorist infrastructures, including weapons caches, “military” headquarters and other facilities from which Hezbollah terrorists operated.
The terror group’s attacks continued on Monday morning, with the IDF intercepting at least two “suspicious aerial targets” south of the ceasefire line in Southern Lebanon. No injuries to IDF soldiers were reported.
Three IDF soldiers were lightly wounded by a Hezbollah suicide drone in Southern Lebanon on Monday, the military confirmed to JNS.
An Israeli Air Force helicopter that was sent to rescue the injured “landed in the extraction area with no ability to take off due to a technical error,” the IDF said in a separate statement.
A second IAF helicopter was dispatched and successfully evacuated the injured soldiers for treatment in Israel, according to the army.
Hezbollah began firing rockets and drones at Israel on March 2, following the targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the opening strikes of Israel’s “Operation Roaring Lion” on Feb. 28.
In response to the terrorist organization’s violation of the U.S.-brokered Nov. 27, 2024, truce agreement, Jerusalem launched an aerial campaign against Hezbollah and ordered the IDF to advance and take control of additional areas in Southern Lebanon to halt cross-border attacks.
Jerusalem and Beirut agreed on April 16 to a 10-day ceasefire following mediation by U.S. President Donald Trump. The two countries agreed on April 23 to extend the truce for three more weeks following direct talks in Washington, D.C.
However, Netanyahu on April 26 accused Hezbollah of “essentially disintegrating” the temporary ceasefire through its ongoing attacks.
“Therefore, as far as we are concerned, what obligates us is the security of Israel, the security of our soldiers, and the security of our communities. We are acting vigorously according to the rules we agreed upon with the United States, and incidentally, with Lebanon as well,” the premier said.
