Sgt. Araf Azbarga

Dec 12, 2004 - Sgt. Araf Azbarga, 19, of Kseifeh was one of five IDF soldiers killed when a tunnel filled with 1.5 tons of explosives was detonated under an IDF post at the Rafah crossing, followed by the infiltration of the post by two terrorists who opened fire and activated another explosive device.

At about 5:30 P.M., a bomb went off under the IDF post in charge of securing the Palestinians crossing from the Gaza Strip into Egyptian Rafah, manned by the IDF Beduin Desert Battalion. Two soldiers were killed in the explosion and a third was buried under the rubble and later pronounced dead. Five other soldiers were wounded. Immediately afterwards, two armed Palestinians penetrated the outpost shot and killed two other soldiers. Soldiers returned fire, killing two terrorists. During the evacuation of the wounded, another bomb went off by an armored personnel carrier parked near the outpost, but caused no casualties.

Araf Azbarga, son of Muhammed and Sabha, grew up in the Beduin town of Kseifeh, near Arad in the Negev, where completed his studies at the local school. He was planning to marry next summer.

Friends said that Araf had planned to go to university after completing his military service, adding that he was a quiet man, well-liked among the residents of his village and was happy to be in the army. Ahmed Azbarga, a relative, was seriously wounded in the terrorist attack.

Sgt. Araf Azbarga was buried in Kseifeh.