Two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers lost their lives on Friday when a military drone they were operating crashed and exploded within their outpost in the northern Gaza Strip, the military confirmed.
The soldiers, who were reservists assigned to the 16th Battalion, were initially evacuated to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon but were pronounced dead upon arrival, according to Brig.-Gen. Elad Tzuri, chief of the 99th Division.
Tzuri stated that the soldiers were engaged in drone operations, having successfully completed their first mission. However, during the second operation, the drone crashed inside their outpost in northern Gaza. The two soldiers proceeded to investigate the crash site, at which time the drone detonated.
The deceased were described by Tzuri as “excellent soldiers,” noting that one held the rank of sergeant and the other was a squad commander. The 16th Battalion had been operating in the region since September 10.
No other soldiers were reported wounded in the incident. At the time of reporting, the military has not disclosed details regarding the drone’s type or whether it carried an explosive payload.
This is a developing story.
