Two IDF Reservists Killed in Northern Gaza Drone Malfunction
Two IDF reservists were killed in the northern Gaza Strip by an exploding army drone during an operational malfunction near Beit Hanoun.
Two IDF reservists were killed yesterday in the northern Gaza Strip due to an operational malfunction involving an army drone.
Master Sgt. (res.) Nadav Kely, 24, from Har Halutz, and Master Sgt. (res.) Ofek Mualem, 23, from Jerusalem, both soldiers in the 7007th Battalion of the 16th Brigade, lost their lives in the incident near Beit Hanoun. According to the military, the troops were operating two drones from a nearby outpost. While the first launch succeeded, the second drone crashed inside the outpost. As the soldiers approached the wreckage, the device detonated for reasons currently under investigation.
The soldiers received immediate medical treatment at the scene and were evacuated by helicopter to a hospital in Israel in critical condition, where they were pronounced dead. The IDF has suspended the use of this specific drone model pending the outcome of the probe, which is examining all potential factors, including possible communication disruptions.
With these fatalities, the death toll among IDF personnel since the outbreak of the war has reached 970.
