During the night leading into Friday, an Israeli soldier was killed in southeastern Lebanon. He was identified as Sgt. Maj. Guy Ludar, 21, a member of the Maglan reconnaissance unit of the IDF Commando Brigade, from Yuvalim in the Lower Galilee. Another Maglan commando soldier was seriously wounded. According to Ynet, Ludar was killed by friendly fire.

The incident occurred at around 3 a.m. during an operation in the southern Lebanese village of Shebaa. The Maglan unit, operating under Division 210, was carrying out a mission to arrest a suspect linked to Hezbollah who was coordinating the terror organization’s activities in the area.

During the operation, after the building had been surrounded and positions had been taken, a soldier identified what were believed to be “suspects” fleeing the scene and opened fire. The building had not been demolished beforehand because Shebaa is a predominantly Sunni village, whose residents typically do not belong to the Iranian-backed Shi’ite terror organization.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz expressed their condolences on Saturday over Ludar’s death.

“Our hearts are with the family of Maglan fighter Guy Ludar, of blessed memory, who was killed in the tragic incident in Southern Lebanon,” Netanyahu said. “My wife and I extend our deepest condolences to Guy’s family and loved ones. He fought with courage and heroism to defend our communities and citizens.”

Katz said he received the news of Ludar’s death “with great sorrow” and offered his “deepest heartfelt condolences” to the soldier’s family. He praised the Israeli troops who are “fighting in Lebanon against a cruel terrorist organization in order to ensure the safety of the residents and communities of the north.”

With Ludar’s death, the number of soldiers killed in the current war in Lebanon rose to 11.

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