A severe incident occurred in southern Lebanon: Captain Eliav Haim Tzaflemos, 21, from Haifa—a combat officer in Battalion 603 of the 7th Brigade—was killed in an operational accident in the Litani region when a Humvee vehicle overturned. Three other IDF soldiers sustained light injuries in the incident and were evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment. Their families have been notified.
Captain Tzaflemos is survived by his parents, Benny and Hali, and four siblings; Eliav was the eldest. His mother, Hali, holds a senior position at the Haifa Municipality. Captain Tzaflemos’s funeral will take place tomorrow, Friday, October 9, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the Haifa Military Cemetery. The family is sitting *shiva* at 43 HaNoter Street in Kiryat Haim.
Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav paid tribute to Captain Tzaflemos, a native of the city, stating: “It is with a broken heart and deep sorrow that I received the tragic news of the death of Captain Eliav Haim Tzaflemos, of blessed memory—a Haifa native and active-duty IDF combat soldier—who fell in battle in southern Lebanon. Eliav set out to defend his people and his country and will not return. He was part of the State of Israel’s generation of heroes. A generation of young people with dreams, aspirations, and a whole future ahead of them, bearing on their shoulders an immense responsibility for the security of the state and the safety of its citizens. A generation that reminds us all of the meaning of mission, dedication, and love for the land.”
Yahav added his own tribute: “Eliav is the son of Hali—a Haifa Municipality employee—and Beni. Dear Hali, all of us—your colleagues at the Haifa Municipality—are devastated and in deep pain. There are no words to console anyone for such a terrible loss. The Haifa Municipality family and all the city’s residents bow their heads today, embrace you, and share in your profound grief. May his memory be a blessing.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz also paid tribute to Captain Tzaflemos: “At this difficult time, my heart goes out to the family of the late Captain Eliav Haim Tzaflemos, a combat officer in the 7th Brigade who fell during operational activity in southern Lebanon. On behalf of the entire defense establishment, I share in the family’s deep sorrow and offer strength to his commanders and comrades. I wish a speedy and full recovery to the soldiers wounded in this grave incident. May his memory be a blessing.”