On Sunday, 06/18/2006, Udi and Eldad were called up for reserve service on the northern border. They were meant to serve 28 days. The service was to include security patrols along the border and other security tasks for the defense of Israel's northern settlements.

Wednesday morning, 07/12/2006, was the last day of their service. Udi and Eldad packed their things and prepared to go home immediately after their last patrol. The patrol included two vehicles, Humvees, that advanced parallel to the border fence from west to east, from Zar’it to Shetula, within Israel's sovereign territory. Udi was sitting in the right front seat. Eldad was sitting right behind him.

Nothing out of the ordinary happened until 09:05, at which time the Hezbollah heavily bombarded the whole region. This turned out to be a diversion for the planned kidnapping of the soldiers.

At this point the Humvees were in a passage in the wadi, when they were suddenly attacked by a group of Hezbollah terrorists.

The leading Humvee in which Udi and Eldad were riding, was hit first by anti-tank RPG missiles.

The second vehicle, 50 – 60 meters behind, reported by radio the hit of the first vehicle before it, too, was hit directly by two anti-tank missiles. The three soldiers in this Humvee were killed.

After the strikes, the terrorists opened fire from lighter weapons in the direction of the wounded soldiers and the damaged vehicles. The driver of the first Humvee managed to stop it and to climb out, taking with him the wounded soldier sitting behind him. Under cover of the firing, Udi and Eldad were kidnapped and taken to Lebanese soil. It is unknown whether they managed to climb out of the vehicle before they were kidnapped. Nor is it known how hurt they were. Footsteps, bloodstains and a hole in the fence were found at the scene.

Immediately after the incident the first attempt was made to locate Udi and Eldad. Four additional soldiers were killed during this attempt. This chain of events led to the beginning of the fighting in the north.