Staff Sergeant (res.) Vladimir Luza, 36, from Ashkelon, a soldier in Battalion 7020 of Brigade 5, was killed in combat in Rafah in southern Gaza Strip, the IDF spokesperson permitted to publish. In the incident, which was apparently caused by an explosive device detonated on the force, two other soldiers were wounded. Since the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, 895 IDF soldiers have fallen in combat.