She was just 20 years old, served as a personnel officer in the Givati Brigade, and was running to the shelter when the drone hit. Sergeant Rotem Yanai from Giv’at Ada is the latest fallen soldier in a war that is officially under ceasefire — and was killed shortly after 2 p.m. on Wednesday by a Hezbollah explosive drone.
She ran to the shelter — and never made it
The attack took place on Wednesday afternoon, when Hezbollah launched two explosive drones at a military facility on the northern border. Yanai was wearing personal protective equipment and was on her way to a protected area when she was struck by the first drone and critically wounded. The second drone seriously wounded one reservist and moderately wounded another.
The Binyamina-Giv’at Ada Local Council announced Yanai’s death on Wednesday evening:
“With great pain and deep sorrow, we announce the fall of Sergeant Rotem Yanai, a resident of Giv’at Ada. Rotem was killed today during operational activity in the north. She was 20 years old and served as a personnel coordinator in the Givati Brigade. She is the daughter of Hilit and Tal, sister of Dor and Aviad. She was a graduate of the Cramim School, where she majored in theater and contributed greatly to school life. She was a beloved member of the Gefen Scouts movement and left a lasting impression on her friends in her very special way.”
A ceasefire without meaning — drones not intercepted
Both drones triggered sirens when they were identified — but neither was intercepted. It is a recurring failure: Hezbollah’s small FPV drones are systematically evading Israeli defense systems. Hezbollah explosive drones have become one of the main threats to IDF soldiers on the northern border and in southern Lebanon — and the defense establishment is still searching for effective countermeasures.
Rotem Yanai is the eleventh Israeli soldier killed since the ceasefire with Hezbollah began in mid-April. The ceasefire officially remains in effect — but the list of fallen soldiers continues to grow by the day.
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