Five soldiers of the Israel Defense Force were killed and six others wounded in an accident during a training exercise in the Negev early Thursday morning.
All were members of an elite unit taking part in the exercise. Two of the wounded were reported Thursday evening to be in serious condition at Beersheba’s Soroka Hospital. Four sustained medium injuries, while one soldier was released to go home after receiving first aid.
The incident occurred when a missile was launched, apparently by accident, for reasons not yet clear. It fell among the group of soldiers.
The wounded were treated immediately by an army doctor who was present.
The IDF chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Ehud Barak, ordered an immediate halt to the use of live ammunition during training exercises throughout the IDF.
The order, which was made in consultation with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who also holds the defense portfolio, was to remain in force until the middle of next week, by which time all standing regulations were to be re- examined.
The IDF Chief also established an investigating commission consisting of senior officers and a civilian lawyer.
Thursday’s accident was the latest in a number of training exercises resulting in casualties to have occurred in recent months. All have been investigated by top-level commissions of inquiry which have demanded amendments to standing orders.
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