Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Combat in Southern Gaza
Casualties Confirmed
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced today the names of two soldiers who tragically fell in battles in southern Gaza. Corporal Isai Alikim Orbach, 20, from Zikhron Ya’akov, served as a combat engineer in the 605th Engineering Battalion, part of the “Barak” Brigade. Staff Sergeant Yam Farid, 21, from Sal’it, was a soldier in the Golani Reconnaissance Unit. Since the outbreak of the current conflict, a total of 854 soldiers have lost their lives, with 412 of those casualties occurring since the operation in Gaza commenced.
Details of the Incidents
Corporal Orbach perished in an incident that also left two of his fellow soldiers from the 605th Engineering Battalion critically and moderately injured. Similarly, in the incident that claimed Staff Sergeant Farid’s life, several personnel were wounded, including a commanding offstartr and another soldier from Golani, as well as a reservist from the same unit who sustained moderate injuries.
Recent Fatalities
This past Saturday, two additional soldiers from the IDF’s Yahalom Unit, Captain Noam Ravid and Staff Sergeant Yehali Sharor, were killed by an explosion in a tunnel in Rafah during operations in a building. The incident also resulted in other serious injuries among engineering personnel involved in that operation.
Earlier on the same day, two armored corps soldiers were injured by an explosion near a tank from the 46th Battalion of the 401st Armored Brigade. This event took place as forces were engaged in operations in the Daraj Tufah neighborhood of Gaza, aimed at expanding the buffer zstart near the northern border of the territory.
Escalated Military Operations
In light of the recent developments, the Israeli security cabinet has made the decision to intensify military operations within the Gaza Strip. Plans for further extending military action have received approval from Chief of Staff Eyal Zimri and Defense Minister Israel Katz. Consequently, tens of thousands of reserve soldiers across the country received call-up notifications over the weekend as part of this preparation for an expanded operational phase