Two IDF officers killed in shooting accident
Two IDF officers, commanders in an elite unit, were mistakenly shot and killed by their comrade on Wednesday night in an apparent case of misidentification.
The IDF stated that the two officers were killed “during a security patrol near an IDF base in the Jordan Valley. The officers were misidentified and mistakenly killed by IDF fire.”
“The families of the officers were notified. We send our heartfelt condolences and will continue to support them,” the military added.
An initial inquiry showed that the two officers were on a patrol when they identified someone they thought was a suspect and fired in the air as a warning. The person they identified as a suspect, their comrade and an officer in the same unit, mistakenly thought they were terrorists and fired at them, killing them both.
IDF Spokesman Brigadier General Ran Kochav said Thursday morning that the incident is “difficult, painful and unfortunate.”
“At the end of a training exercise of one of the special units, in the fire ranges of Nabi Musa in the eastern Judean Desert, two commanders of the force went on patrol, performed a suspicious arrest procedure and fired into the air. A fighter from the unit identifies the activity as terrorism. Two commanders were killed as a result of the shooting.”
The identities of the casualties, members of the Egoz commando unit, have yet to be announced.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said: “This is a very sad morning.
I would like to send heartfelt condolences to the families of the two officers who were killed overnight in a tragic accident.
The two commanders had dedicated their best years to the security of Israel and defending our homeland. The entire people of Israel mourns for them.
The IDF is investigating the difficult incident and the necessary lessons will be learned.
May their memories be blessed.”
TPS
thats ashame that happend.the officer that shot them we need to pray for them.people only think about that he shot them.but he knew them and you can imagine what the officer that shot them is going thru to.
Elite? Training exercises must be meticulously planned with a conducting officer and a safety officer. Well that’s how we did it in the Australian Army. Condolences and Regards, Infantry Officer 1972-1996.