Colonel Roy Levy, the commander of the elite unit known as the 'Ghost' unit, tragically lost his life yesterday during a confrontation with militants from the Palestinian group Hamas in the southern community of Reim, as reported by the Times of Israel.

"He bravely led his team, being the first to enter the battle at Kibbutz Reim to rescue citizens who were besieged in their homes," stated the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in a press release.

According to the IDF, approximately 10 Palestinian militants were killed in the firefight. Subsequently, the IDF also released the names of 17 additional soldiers who lost their lives in the fighting in the southern region of the country.