The commander of the elite Duvdevan Unit, Lt.-Col. Eyal Weiss, 34, was killed Friday morning during an IDF operation in the village of Saida, 20 kilometers east of Tulkarm. Another soldier was lightly injured.
The Duvdevan unit arrived in Saida around 2:00 a.m. to arrest suspects from the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization and the head of the Tanzim terrorists in the area. According to IDF spokesmen, fire was exchanged many times during the operation. Islamic Jihad terrorist Jasser Abdul Rahni, 28, was shot and killed during the exchange. A kalachnikov rifle and several grenades were found on his body.
During the operation one of the Islamic Jihad members, Ja’aser Radad, took up arms in his house and threw a number of grenades at the soldiers surrounding it. Soldiers told Radad to exit his house and when he wouldn’t they began demolishing it with a bulldozer. This prompted the terrorist to surrender.
Weiss arrested Radad and brought him across the street behind a cement wall for questioning, as soldiers continued destroying the house. In a freak occurrence, the roof of the house was flung and hit the wall, causing it to collapse on Weiss, killing him instantly.
Ll.Col. Weiss began his military service as a member of the Nahal Brigade, serving many roles including commander of the Nahal reconnaissance unit and battalion commander. He also served as deputy of the Hiram Formation in the Northern Command, among other important positions. He was appointed Commander of the Duvdevan unit in April, 2001. Weiss leaves a wife and one child.
Duvdevan is the IDF’s commando unit assigned to track and seize Arabs wanted for terrorism against Israel.
The Friday morning operation resulted in the arrest of three other Islamic Jihad activists and the head of the Tanzim in Saida.
The Duvdevan unit arrived in Saida around 2:00 a.m. to arrest suspects from the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization and the head of the Tanzim terrorists in the area. According to IDF spokesmen, fire was exchanged many times during the operation. Islamic Jihad terrorist Jasser Abdul Rahni, 28, was shot and killed during the exchange. A kalachnikov rifle and several grenades were found on his body.
During the operation one of the Islamic Jihad members, Ja’aser Radad, took up arms in his house and threw a number of grenades at the soldiers surrounding it. Soldiers told Radad to exit his house and when he wouldn’t they began demolishing it with a bulldozer. This prompted the terrorist to surrender.
Weiss arrested Radad and brought him across the street behind a cement wall for questioning, as soldiers continued destroying the house. In a freak occurrence, the roof of the house was flung and hit the wall, causing it to collapse on Weiss, killing him instantly.
Ll.Col. Weiss began his military service as a member of the Nahal Brigade, serving many roles including commander of the Nahal reconnaissance unit and battalion commander. He also served as deputy of the Hiram Formation in the Northern Command, among other important positions. He was appointed Commander of the Duvdevan unit in April, 2001. Weiss leaves a wife and one child.
Duvdevan is the IDF’s commando unit assigned to track and seize Arabs wanted for terrorism against Israel.
The Friday morning operation resulted in the arrest of three other Islamic Jihad activists and the head of the Tanzim in Saida.