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Sergeant Moshe Yitzchak HaCohen Katz, from New Haven, Connecticut has reportedly been killed in a ground clash between Hezbollah forces and IDF in Lebanon.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officially announced on Sunday morning, March 29, 2026, the death of Sergeant Moshe Yitzchak HaCohen Katz, 22, who was killed during overnight operations in southern Lebanon.
Sergeant Katz, a combat fighter in the 890th Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade, lost his life during a Hezbollah rocket attack or engagement late Saturday night, March 28. According to military reports, three other soldiers sustained moderate injuries in the same incident and were evacuated for medical treatment.
Katz, who previously held the rank of corporal, was posthumously promoted to sergeant.
The Journey of a ‘Lone Soldier’
Originally from New Haven, Connecticut, Katz was a prominent member of the local Chabad-Lubavitch community. He was serving as a “lone soldier”—an immigrant serving in the IDF without immediate family residing in Israel. Records indicate he made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) specifically with the intent to enlist and serve in a combat unit.
Family and Community Mourning
The news has deeply impacted the Jewish community in Connecticut. His father, Mendy Katz of Chabad of New Haven, shared a heartbreaking tribute on social media following the notification:
“With unspeakable tragedy, I regret to inform you that my 22-year-old son Moshe Yitzchak… fell in battle in Lebanon. My oldest son, with a zest for life and jokes. My heart is shattered and the wound is real.”
The Katz family, including parents Mendy and Devorah and Moshe’s siblings, are currently traveling to Israel to attend the funeral service. The burial is scheduled to take place on Monday in Israel.
