Two Israeli soldiers killed as drone meant for combat explodes at military outpost

In an apparent accident during Israel’s military operation against Hamas in Gaza, a small explosive drone operated by Israeli forces suddenly crashed and detonated, killing two soldiers.

According to The Times of Israel, a military spokesperson said the incident occurred at a military outpost in northern Gaza. Two soldiers were killed in the incident.

The soldiers were identified as 24-year-old Master Sergeant Nadav Kali and 23-year-old Master Sergeant Ofek Moalem. Both were serving with the Jerusalem Brigade’s 7007th Battalion.

According to the Israeli military spokesperson, the two soldiers were operating FPV drones known as “Atlaf.”

The drone had successfully completed its first mission but crashed inside the military outpost for an unknown reason while being launched for a second mission.

The soldiers approached the crashed drone to inspect it and picked it up. At that moment, the explosive-laden drone detonated, seriously injuring both soldiers. They later died from their injuries in hospital.

Following the incident, the Israeli military temporarily suspended flights of all small drones carrying explosives. Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir also established an expert committee to conduct a full investigation into the incident.

According to the latest figures released by the Israeli military, 968 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the war in Gaza since October 7, 2023. Of these, 472 were killed in ground combat with Hamas inside Gaza, while the number of wounded soldiers is considerably higher.