3 soldiers hurt in tank mishap

Tank flips over during Golan Heights exercise; troops lightly hurt, treated at scene

Reuters | Published: 08.13.08, 20:59

Accident during Golan drill: Three IDF soldiers sustained light wounds Wednesday evening after their tank flipped over during an exercise on the Golan Heights. The troops, who were mostly bruised, were treated at the scene by medical teams.

The exercise was held in the framework of an IDF course for regiment and platoon commanders. The tank involved in the accident was reportedly Merkava 4, Israel's most advanced tank.

The accident occurred near the end of the training session, so there was no need to stop the drill. IDF officials have launched an inquiry into the incident. According to initial assessments, the mishap was the result of human error.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak observed an IDF drill in the Golan on Tuesday and said that "it's not by chance that the army is training in the Golan so extensively.

Barak was accompanied by IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi, Head of the GOC Army Headquarters Major-General Avi Mizrahi and other senior IDF officers.

"We are seeing a significant strengthening by Hizbullah in the past few years. We're monitoring any possibility of a shift in balance (of power) due to the Syrians supplying Hizbullah with advances weapons' systems.

"We're doing what needs to be done, preparation wise. I'd rather not elaborate. If we need to take action we'll be ready," he said.