Two of the victims of the New Orleans car-ramming terror attack on New Year’s Day were Israeli reserves soldiers vacationing after battling Hamas and Hezbollah for over a year, The New York Post reported Saturday.

Israel’s consul to the Southwest United States, Elad Shoshan told the Post that the two were “best friends” in their mid-20s, who had been traveling around the US to “clear their heads” after long stints in the IDF.

One suffered “critical” injuries, including head trauma requiring two “life-saving” surgeries, Shoshan said, adding that the victim will require further surgery for his limbs. The second man was intubated Friday as a precaution and is in “stable” condition after two surgeries for internal injuries.