In letter to PM, parents of troops fighting in south Lebanon decry lack of air support

Parents of dozens of troops from the Nahal Brigade’s Reconnaissance Unit have sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decrying the “extremely unreasonable” circumstances their children face in southern Lebanon, citing the “heavy losses and a lack of the full range of means to carry out the mission” after four soldiers from the unit were killed and several others wounded fighting Hezbollah.

In the letter, which is also addressed to Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF commanders, the parents say the soldiers in southern Lebanon have not received sufficient air cover as the Israeli Air Force focuses on striking Hezbollah’s patron Iran. They call for “the necessary changes” to be implemented.

“Without belittling the great importance of defending residents of northern communities, we believe it is illegitimate to define as a war goal the drawing of fire toward soldiers while exposing them to an immediate danger to their lives,” the parents write.

They add: “Exploiting the dedication of our children, young people who have already been fighting for three years (!!) in a tremendous war on all fronts, is a serious act of injustice that is unacceptable.”