(Illustration)
Photo: AP
2 soldiers accidentally stay in shooting range fire line; saved at last moment
Two Paratroopers soldiers nearly shot by comrades after accidentally staying in firing range target line; soldier noticed friend, called everyone to hold fire; commander tried
An IDF paratroopers
unit practicing in a shooting range at the Lakhish Region
faced a near tragedy when one soldier realized that two of his friends remained at the backstop just before the unit was about to fire at the targets, Ynet learned Saturday.
The unit had already been engaged in training when the near accident occurred. The soldiers were examining their shooting targets, some few dozen meters away from the firing line, before ordered to return to the line so as to resume shooting.
Related Stories:
- Tragedy in Golan: Mine blast kills IDF soldier
- IDF soldier killed in terrorist attack on Egypt border
- IDF evicts Palestinian villagers for military exercise
As the soldiers prepared to shoot, one serviceman noticed that one of his comrades was still near the targets and cried out at everyone to hold their fire.
The troop held fire, thereby avoiding any injury to the two soldiers who were still near the target line.
The training officer reported the incident to his superiors and was tried. He was reprimanded but is expected to remain in service.
A source with the IDFsaid that the incident was a dangerous and unusual one, adding that "the only way to avoid such incidents in the future is to probe the incident as if someone was injured – that is in accordance with the severity of the incident rather than with its results."
According to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, "those involved faced trial after an extensive inquiry into the incident. The lessons learned were implemented in protocol for soldiers and officers."
- Receive Ynetnews updates
directly to your desktop
