Rockville Native Omer Balva Died Fighting In Israel From Missile Attack Near Lebanon

ISRAEL — Omer Balva, a 22-year-old Rockville native and Israeli resident in the Israel Defense Forces, was killed this month after fighting against the Palestinian militant group Hamas spread to attacks from Lebanon, The Washington Post reported Sunday.

Balva, who was a member of the IDF's reserve infantry unit, was raised in Maryland with three siblings, the outlet reported. He relocated from Maryland to Israel with his parents in 2019, when he enlisted in the local army.

“He was such a loving person,” Ethan Missner, 23, told The Washington Post of his friend. “He brought a lot of light to the world.”

In a post on Instagram, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School announced the death of Balva, 22, who attended the school and graduated in 2019. School officials called him a beloved student there from age 7 to his high school graduation.

Omer "was an unabashed advocate for the State of Israel. He is a hero to the State of Israel, the Jewish people, and the school. We are devastated and heartbroken," the school's Instagram post said.

Balva was serving with the Israeli Defense Forces and had been called up for reserve duty recently. He was in the U.S. last week when he was called into reserve service and flew back to Israel to report for duty, the Times of Israel reported.

On Friday evening, during a missile attack against troops operating in the Netu’a and Biranit areas on the northern border, Balva was killed and at least three other soldiers were hurt, the Israeli newspaper reported. Authorities said an anti-tank missile fired by Hezbollah in Lebanon struck Balva's unit.

Reports said Balva was a dual American-Israeli citizen.