JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The two Israeli soldiers killed by a Hezbollah explosive device on Wednesday were identified as Major (Res.) Harel Birenstock, 34, of Nokdim, and Sergeant Major (Res.) Tamir Vaknin, 33, of Eilat. All six casualties served in the 2855th Battalion of the 55th Paratroopers Brigade.

Birenstock is survived by his wife, four children, his parents and siblings. Vaknin leaves behind his parents and two brothers.

Michael Tomer, a close friend of Birenstock, described him as a lifelong friend and “a winner at heart.” “Harel and I were friends from a very young age, really like brothers,” he said. “Until the army, we went through the same frameworks together and were counselors in a youth movement. Harel was someone who always did everything well. He always tried to keep things light and made everything seem easy.”

Tomer said Birenstock had devoted himself completely to military service in recent years. “For the past three years, Harel put his entire life on hold and gave everything he had to reserve duty,” he said. “He had a wife at home, four children and a job as an engineer at Elbit, but the most important thing was reserve duty and defending the country.”\

He recalled Birenstock’s determination and generosity. Nearly two years ago, after extensive fundraising work, Birenstock raised 30,000 shekels for the Shalva organization, and the two ran the New York Marathon together. “That was Harel,” Tomer said. “Just yesterday morning, a few hours before the incident, we were messaging. In recent years, whenever he entered somewhere, he would write to tell me how he was and that everything was fine. In our last conversation, I asked him when we would go cycling together.”

Tomer Vaknin (L) and Harel Birenstock HYD

Gush Etzion Regional Council head Yaron Rosenthal also mourned Birenstock, who grew up in the area and later built his home there. “We grieve Harel’s fall and send our condolences to his parents, his wife, his children, his brothers, his sisters and his entire family,” Rosenthal wrote. “I also send an embrace and strength to my friends in the 55th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade, which suffered a severe blow today. I am here in the hills of Gush Etzion, and my heart is with you in the mountains of Lebanon.”
‘A hero of Israel, the salt of the earth’

Vaknin’s brother Yoav said Tamir was known for his warmth, humor and deep commitment to those around him. “Tamir had a huge heart,” he said. “He made everyone in the company laugh. His friends from reserve duty always said he was its heart. Since October 7, he had constantly been in the reserves and never considered stopping. He would serve for a period, rest a little and then go back again.”

According to Yoav, Vaknin had been thinking seriously about his future and career, including the possibility of taking a position in the United States. “He really wanted to advance at work and was considering whether to take a job in the United States,” he said. “It was hard for him because of the family, but he wanted to build his future. Reserve duty held back his work to some extent, but he felt he had to do it.” He added: “He always took care of the family. He always called our parents and brothers and visited often. He truly cared for everyone around him.”

Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri, who visited the Vaknin family Wednesday night, said the city had received the news with profound pain. “Tamir was one of the finest sons of this city,” Lankri said. “Eilat bows its head, grieves the loss and embraces the dear family during this unbearably difficult hour.”

Vaknin was the son of Shimon and Katerina and the brother of David and Yoav. He grew up in Eilat, studied in the city’s education system and attended Rabin High School. “He was a hero of Israel, the salt of the earth, who fought courageously in defense of the State of Israel,” Lankri said.

Ariel, a friend of the Vaknin family, urged Eilat residents to attend Vaknin’s funeral at the military cemetery. “When I heard the news of the disaster, I did not want to believe it,” he said. “As someone who knows similar loss closely, I know the pain never truly passes, even when people say time does its work.” He added: “We must continue to believe they are watching from above and expect us to grow stronger and give the best of ourselves to protect the country for which they were killed.”

IDF probing cause of explosion

The explosion occurred during an operation to clear Majdal Zoun, a village in southern Lebanon under Israeli military control.

An initial report suggested an engineering vehicle had struck an explosive device. The IDF later said troops had entered a building that had been booby-trapped with explosives. The four wounded reservists were evacuated to Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa.

The military has launched an investigation to determine when the explosive device was planted and whether it was placed before or after the ceasefire took effect.

Following the incident, the IDF said it struck Hezbollah infrastructure in the area, including weapons storage sites and operational facilities, describing the attacks as a response to what it called Hezbollah’s violation of the ceasefire.

Israeli officials are also examining whether Hezbollah operatives remotely detonated the device after identifying Israeli troops operating in the village.