IDF announces officer and soldier killed in explosion in Hamas tunnel Rafah

The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) cleared for publication today (Sunday) that Captain Noam Ravid, 23, from Sha'arei Tikva, an officer in the Yahalom unit, and Staff Sgt. Yaly Seror, 20, from Omer, a soldier in the unit, were killed in battle in the southern Gaza Strip. The number of IDF casualties in the “Iron Swords” war stands at 853.

Yesterday, around 5:30 PM, during an operation by the Golani Brigade in the Jenina neighborhood of Rafah, a tunnel shaft was discovered inside a building during searches and encirclement of the area. Yahalom fighters, trained for underground operations, were called to the scene. During the inspection of the shaft, a powerful explosive device detonated. Ravid and Seror were killed; two other soldiers were seriously and moderately injured.

The IDF says that in this area of Rafah – recently isolated by the military and cut off from Khan Younis via the Morag Route – numerous terrorists have been spotted going underground and hiding, which is why the IDF is operating below ground as well. Military sources say that in the Jenina and Shaboura neighborhoods, images have already emerged of terrorists surrendering; the pressure on them is working and beginning to show results.

The day before yesterday, it was cleared for publication that Sergeant Niv Dayag, 19, from Ramat HaSharon, a soldier in the 890th Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade, was killed in a car accident during an operational activity in the Golan Heights. In the incident, two other soldiers from the 890th Battalion and a soldier from the Golan Division headquarters (474th) were lightly injured and evacuated for medical treatment. Their families were notified. The circumstances of the incident are under investigation.

A week ago, Second Sergeant (Sgt.) Neta Yitzhak Kahana, a Mista'arav (undercover operative) in the Southern Border Police, 19, from Moshav Eitan, was killed in an encounter with terrorists during combat in the Shejaiya area of the Gaza Strip. Additionally, Captain Ido Wallach, a 21-year-old armored corps officer from Jerusalem, a platoon commander in the 46th Battalion of the “Iron Tracks” Division, was killed in a separate incident in the region.

Written by KAN 11 News correspondents Itay Blumenthal and Carmela Menashe.