The IDF on Motzaei Shabbos cleared for publication the names of three more soldiers who were killed in combat during Hezbollah attacks in southern Lebanon on Friday.

The fallen soldiers are Staff Sgt. Yoav Klein, 21, of Herzliya; Staff Sgt. Liav Kababia, 20, of Hod Hasharon; and Sgt. First Class Nir Ben Ari, 21, of Kerem Maharal.

Klein and Kababia both served in the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Brigade and were killed during a deadly Hezbollah attack targeting IDF forces operating near the Ali Taher Ridge area, south of Nabatieh.

According to an initial Kan News report, the attack involved a coordinated assault in which Hezbollah terrorists first fired an anti-tank missile at an IDF tank before launching an explosive drone. Initial findings indicate the drone penetrated the rear of the tank while carrying anti-tank munitions and detonated inside the vehicle.

Also killed in the same attack were Lt.-Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon and two additional IDF soldiers whose names have not yet been cleared for publication.

Herzliya Mayor Yariv Fisher paid tribute to Klein, saying, “Once again, our hearts break with deep sorrow, and with great pain, we were informed of the fall of Yoav Klein, of blessed memory, a Herzliya native and a graduate of Hayovel High School. Only three years ago, he was still a student at the school. A young man with an entire future ahead of him, a talented and beloved basketball player, who grew up in our city and chose to go out and defend the country and all of us.”

“I send my heartfelt embrace to his parents, Eran and Einat, his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing Yoav,” Fisher continued. “There are no words that can console such a loss, and there is no greater pain than that of parents forced to part with their son. Herzliya bows its head today. We will remember Yoav, his smile, his path, and his tremendous sacrifice. May his memory be blessed.”

In a separate Hezbollah attack, Sgt. First Class Nir Ben Ari of the elite Maglan Unit, Commando Brigade, was killed while operating in southern Lebanon.

Ben Ari served as the logistics officer for his company and was scheduled to begin his discharge leave at the end of the month. He was just nine days away from celebrating his 22nd birthday.

Born and raised in Moshav Kerem Maharal, Ben Ari is survived by his parents and three siblings: Guy, Shay, and Shir.

In the attack in which Ben Ari was killed, two additional IDF soldiers were seriously wounded and an IDF officer sustained moderate injuries.

The latest fatalities came during a series of Hezbollah attacks that the IDF has described as blatant violations of the newly announced ceasefire.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)