An American-born Israeli soldier was killed in combat in southern Lebanon, Israeli officials confirmed Sunday.
Sgt. Moshe Yitzchak Hacohen Katz, 22, was born in New Haven, Connecticut. He was posthumously promoted to sergeant after enlisting in the IDF’s Paratroopers Brigade. According to the Israel Defense Forces, he was a member of the 890th Battalion.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed condolences, calling Katz a hero who served with courage. Katz’s great-uncle described him as a religious, studious young man who cherished life.
The conflict is part of Israel’s ongoing military operations in Lebanon, where it is fighting Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group. Israel has urged civilians in southern Lebanon to evacuate.
The UN reports one in five Lebanese residents-about a million people-have fled their homes due to the war. Since hostilities began with Iran, at least 1,116 people have died in Lebanon alone, according to the National Institute for Security Studies.