Ariel, Israel (May 19, 2026)
The IDF announced Tuesday that Maj. (res.) Itamar Sapir HY”D, a 27-year-old reserve officer from Ariel, was killed in combat in southern Lebanon, bringing fresh grief to his family, his community, and the nation.
Sapir served as a platoon commander in the Maglan special forces unit, part of the IDF Commando Brigade. He had been called up for reserve duty and fell while operating on the northern front, where Israeli forces have continued to face deadly threats from Hezbollah and other terror elements in southern Lebanon.
He is survived by his wife, their one-and-a-half-year-old son Maayan, his parents, and three siblings. He had grown up in Eli and later made his home in Ariel, building the life of a young husband and father while continuing to answer the call to defend Israel.
His death is a devastating reminder of the painful burden carried by Israel’s reserve soldiers and their families. These are men who leave behind wives, children, jobs, homes, and ordinary routines, stepping away from daily life to protect the country in moments of danger. For Sapir’s family, that sacrifice has now become an unimaginable personal loss.
Maj. (res.) Itamar Sapir will be remembered as a devoted husband, loving father, dedicated officer, and brave defender of Israel.
Boruch Dayan HaEmes. Hamakom Yinacheim.