The IDF announced that Sgt. Idan Fooks fell in southern Lebanon on Sunday.
Fooks, 19, from Petah Tikva, served in the 7th Armored Brigade's 77th Battalion.
He was killed when an explosive drone fired by Hezbollah terrorists hit his position during an operation in southern Lebanon.
Six other soldiers were injured in the incident.
Out of these, one officer and three soldiers were seriously wounded, one was moderately wounded, and the other was lightly wounded, IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin wrote on X/Twitter.
Fallen soldier receives posthumous promotion
Fooks was posthumously promoted from Corporal to Sergeant, the IDF said.
Fooks's funeral will be held on Monday afternoon, Petah Tikva Mayor Rami Greenberg announced.
One of the other wounded soldiers was also from the city, Greenberg noted.
Senior Israeli officials have told their American counterparts that if Hezbollah continues attacking IDF soldiers, Israel will be unable to maintain its current measured response, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.
Israel's ceasefire with Lebanon was extended
This comes after US President Donald Trump announced that the ceasefire would be extended for another three weeks following a meeting between Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanon’s ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh Mouawad. Trump also said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House in the near future.
On Sunday evening, Netanyahu convened a small group of ministers along with senior security officials to discuss both Iran and the situation in Lebanon. One option under consideration is escalating strikes against Hezbollah, including targeting areas beyond southern Lebanon.
Earlier, at the start of the government meeting, Netanyahu acknowledged that the US administration is limiting the scope of Israel’s response.
“We are acting vigorously according to rules agreed upon with the United States—and, incidentally, with Lebanon as well. This means freedom of action not only to respond to attacks—that is clear—but also to thwart immediate threats and to address emerging threats,” Netanyahu said.
He added that Israel is not prepared to accept Hezbollah’s actions and that “we will do what is necessary to restore security to the north.”