Major Itamar Levin Friedman from Eilat dies in battle

Major (res.) Itamar Levin Friedman, 34, from Eilat, has been identified as the 783rd IDF casualty in Operation Iron Swords.

Friedman, who commanded a counter-terrorism unit in Eilat's elite Lotar unit, fell in battle in northern Gaza after being hit by a Hamas anti-tank missile.

On Friday, the IDF announced the passing of Master Sergeant (res.) Guy Shabtai, 39, from Jerusalem, who succumbed to wounds sustained two weeks earlier in combat in southern Lebanon.

Shabtai, who served as a Jewish tradition and spirit coordinator in Battalion 8207 of the Alon Brigade (228), had been fighting for his life since the incident.

Shabtai was wounded in a battle that saw 16 soldiers injured and claimed the lives of five reservists from Brigade 228: Master Sergeant Major Shaul Moyal, Captain Rabbi Avraham Yosef Goldberg, Master Sergeant Gilad Elmaliach, Captain Amit Hayut, and Major Eliav Amram Abitbul.

May their memories be a blessing.