Cleared for Publication: Maj. Harel Birnstock and Master Sgt. (Res.) Tamir Vaknin Fell in Battle in Southern Lebanon
The IDF Spokesperson cleared for publication the names of Maj. Harel Birnstock and Master Sgt. (Res.) Tamir Vaknin, who fell in battle in southern Lebanon. The two were killed in an incident during searches for new sites, when they entered a booby-trapped house and an explosive device was activated, collapsing part of it. Maj. Birnstock, a resident of Efrat, was married and father of four. Four additional wounded were evacuated.
The IDF Spokesperson cleared this morning (Thursday) for publication the names of Maj. Harel Birnstock and Master Sgt. (Res.) Tamir Vaknin, who fell in battle in southern Lebanon. Maj. Birnstock, a resident of Efrat in Gush Etzion, about 34 years old, was married and father of four, including a baby about six months old. The two fell in an incident that occurred during searches by the force for new sites in the area that had not yet been checked. During the searches, the squad entered a booby-trapped house, an explosive device was activated and collapsed part of it. Forces rushed to provide aid to the soldiers on whom the structure collapsed and evacuated Maj. Birnstock and Master Sgt. (Res.) Tamir Vaknin, along with four wounded of varying degrees. The head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, Yaron Rosenthal, eulogized Maj. Birnstock: "We grieve the fall of Harel, who grew up in Gush Etzion and established his home here, and send condolences to his parents, his wife, his children, his brothers, his sisters, and his entire family. I also send a hug and strength to my friends in the Paratroopers Reserve Brigade (Brigade 55), which suffered a heavy blow today."