Father Mourns Israeli Reservist Killed in Lebanon: ‘I Should Be Taking You to Your Wedding’

EILAT, Israel (VINnews) — Hundreds of mourners gathered Thursday in Eilat for the funeral of Chief Master Sgt. (res.) Tamir Vaknin, an Israeli combat medic who was killed in southern Lebanon.

Vaknin, a reservist in the Paratroopers’ 55th Brigade, was killed Wednesday alongside Maj. (res.) Harel Birenstock when an explosive device detonated as troops searched a booby-trapped building in the village of Majdal Zoun. Four other reserve soldiers were seriously wounded.

“I need to bury my son instead of escorting him to his wedding,” his father, Shimon Vaknin, said during the funeral. Recalling one of their last conversations, he said, “I told you, ‘Don’t be first, be last.’ You laughed and said, ‘It doesn’t work like that.'” He ended his eulogy with a final request: “Please watch over your brothers.”

Vaknin’s brother, Yoav, remembered him for his humor and optimism. “We will all remember your smile,” he said. “You left every one of us with a joy that was taken away in a second.”

Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri called Vaknin “one of Eilat’s finest sons,” saying he left everything behind after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack to repeatedly report for reserve duty as a combat medic.

The Israeli military said it is investigating the blast, including whether the explosive device was planted or remotely detonated by Hezbollah militants. Following the attack, the military said it struck Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon, including weapons depots and operational sites, saying the targets violated the ceasefire.