Israeli Soldier Nehorai Leizer Killed in Explosive Drone Strike in Southern Lebanon

Sgt. Nehorai Leizer, 19, a combat engineering soldier from Eilat, was killed yesterday (Sunday) in an explosive drone strike in southern Lebanon. The announcement was cleared for publication this morning by the IDF Spokesperson. In the same incident, an IDF officer, Nehorai’s commander, was seriously wounded. He was evacuated for medical treatment at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, and his family has been notified.

Nehorai, of blessed memory, is the 11th fatality since the ceasefire took effect, and the seventh person killed as a result of explosive drone attacks — among them six soldiers and one civilian.

The incident took place yesterday at around 3:30 p.m., near the Christian village of Debel in the Bint Jbeil sector. The IDF is now investigating the circumstances of the case. At the center of the inquiry is whether the explosive drone, which detonated on the upper section of a *Namer* armored personnel carrier, managed to penetrate the protected vehicle.

Nehorai, who served as the driver of the armored personnel carrier, was killed on the spot by shrapnel. The *Namer* APC in which they were traveling is intended, among other things, for evacuating wounded soldiers under fire. Over the past weekend, the vehicle was used to evacuate eight soldiers who were wounded in a drone strike in the area.

The incident occurred in the middle of a tense day, during which the Hezbollah terror organization launched more than 30 drones toward communities, military positions, and IDF forces operating inside Lebanese territory.

Nehorai’s sister, Mai Leizer, spoke this morning in pain on Kan Reshet Bet: "We woke up to a morning of a new life, with a piece taken from our hearts. And we will rise from this with Hashem’s help. He was a humble boy, a leader, the salt of the earth, with the biggest heart in the world.” Mai said that Nehorai insisted on taking part in the operational mission in Lebanon: "He fought to go in, he was not supposed to go in — he wanted it. We never imagined it would come knocking on our door". 

She also shared about their close connection in his final days: "At every moment he was able to update us, he would call us on FaceTime. He was always smiling and trying to calm us down. He never let us worry for a moment, did everything for our peace of mind — no matter how afraid he was inside. And we know he was afraid. He just never let it affect him; he always looked ahead."