Israel mourned Saturday the loss of three soldiers in a terror attack on the Egyptian border Saturday.
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Staff Sgt. Ori Yitzhak Iluz, 20, and Sgt. Lia Ben Nun, 19, were shot by the terrorist at the southern border with Egypt early Saturday morning. The third soldier, Staff Sgt. Ohad Dahan, 20, was killed in the following shootout between the IDF and the terrorist, who is believed to have been a member of Egypt's armed forces.
Dahan's funeral will be held at noon on Sunday in the military section of the Ofakim cemetery. Iluz will be laid to rest at 5:00 p.m. in Tzfat.
Ben Nun leaves behind her parents and an older sister. Just two weeks earlier, she celebrated her 19th birthday and was set to begin a squad commander course. Six days before being killed in the terror attack, she uploaded a video to social media of her journey in the military and dream to join the Border Police as well as the friendships she had made along the way.
A fellow fighter remembered Ben Nun as "a very friendly, task-oriented girl. A real leader." Another said, "She always smiled and always saw the good in everyone."
Ben Nun's aunt eulogized her, saying, "I am the aunt of this beautiful warrior, a lovely flower that was picked, all with a pure smile of love. Unthinkable. Our hearts are broken. Crushed by pain."
Dahan's uncle said his nephew was "an excellent and valuable fighter. According to reports, he was the last casualty and we were not surprised. I knew it was him. On the eve of Shavuot, we laughed and sat with the whole family. A despicable Egyptian soldier murdered him.
Dahan's cousin said, "This is how Ohad was raised – to love Israel and care for the country."
Ben Nun and Dahan received posthumous promotions, with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi saying that "they fulfilled their duty and prevented another attack on Israeli forces."
Halevi said on Saturday that the military will "thoroughly" probe the circumstances surrounding the deadly shootings, "drawing the necessary lessons."
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