The Binyamin Regional Council announced Tuesday night that Major (res.) Itamar Sapir Hy’d was killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon. He was 27 years old. Levaya arrangements were set for Wednesday in Ra’anana.

Itamar was born to Yehuda and Rivki Sapir of Eli, where he was raised and educated in local schools throughout the Binyamin region. He later continued his studies at Yeshivat Neve Shmuel in Efrat.

A number of years ago, he married Roi, and the couple initially lived in Ra’anana before settling in Ariel. There, they raised their young son, Maayan, who is about a year and a half old.

Sapir enlisted in the IDF in 2019 and served in the elite Maglan unit. By the end of his active-duty service, he had risen to the position of company commander. During reserve duty, he continued serving as a company commander in Maglan’s reserve battalion.

Those who knew Itamar spoke emotionally about the loss and the impact he had on those around him.

“He was the most upright friend I know,” said Meir, a childhood friend of Itamar. “A cheerful and opinionated friend with a wonderful family. A friend who, when he wanted something, would invest all of himself to achieve his goal.”

Sapir is the 63rd soldier from the Binyamin Regional Council to fall since the beginning of the war. He is survived by his wife Roi, son Maayan, parents Yehuda and Rivki, and brothers Tal, Erez, and Yosef.

Binyamin Regional Council head Israel Ganz issued a statement mourning Sapir’s death and offering condolences to the family.

“All of our hearts are broken with the fall of Captain Itamar Sapir, of blessed memory,” Ganz said. “Itamar grew up in Eli, a community that has already sacrificed many of its finest sons since the start of the war. The Eli community sends its sons to the front with faith, responsibility, and endless devotion, and tragically, this time its son did not return.”