Sgt. Ophir Mishael, 20, of Maaleh Adumim, died during the night of wounds he suffered during a Hizbullah shelling attack four days ago. His wounds were originally not considered life-threatening, but his condition deteriorated significantly yesterday. Late last night and yesterday afternoon, Hizbullah fired additional shells at IDF outposts on Har Dov, causing no casualties.
Mishael is the seventh soldier to have fallen on the northern border since the IDF withdrew from southern Lebanon over two years ago. The last soldier to have been killed there was St.-Sgt. Elad Litvak, 21, in April 2001. Israel responded at the time with a major raid on a Syrian radar installation. Prime Minister Sharon held a meeting on the escalating Hizbullah attacks, and heard intelligence reports predicting more Hizbullah attacks in the coming days. No decisions were announced.
Mishael is the seventh soldier to have fallen on the northern border since the IDF withdrew from southern Lebanon over two years ago. The last soldier to have been killed there was St.-Sgt. Elad Litvak, 21, in April 2001. Israel responded at the time with a major raid on a Syrian radar installation. Prime Minister Sharon held a meeting on the escalating Hizbullah attacks, and heard intelligence reports predicting more Hizbullah attacks in the coming days. No decisions were announced.