The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed that Staff Sergeant Ori Greenberg, 21, was killed during a close-range exchange of fire with militants in southern Lebanon.
According to a military statement released early Thursday, Greenberg, a combat soldier with the IDF’s Nahal Brigade, died in action during an operation near the Lebanese border. The IDF said the firefight erupted after Israeli troops encountered armed terrorists operating in the area.
The army reported that several of the assailants were “neutralized” in the ensuing battle, adding that operations continue in the region amid ongoing cross-border tensions with Hezbollah-linked elements. Greenberg’s unit had reportedly been conducting security sweeps following a series of recent rocket attacks from southern Lebanon targeting northern Israeli communities.
Military officials praised Greenberg’s bravery, calling him a dedicated and courageous soldier who “fell defending Israel’s northern frontier.” His family has been notified, and funeral arrangements will be announced later in the day.
The latest incident highlights the growing volatility along the Israel–Lebanon border, where exchanges of fire have intensified in recent weeks amidst wider regional hostilities tied to the Israel–Iran conflict.
