The IDF releases a video of the same large-scale reservists’ exercise that almost ended in tragedy when artillery shells nearly hit top generals.

The heads of Central Command and of the Ground Forces were standing with a large number of soldiers when two artillery shells exploded nearby. No one was injured. IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz also was at the training exercise.

An investigating committee headed by Colonel Hadi Zilberman told Ground Forces Commander Shlomo Turgeman that their first findings indicated that the misfiring occurred because soldiers did not follow orders. The two misfired shells missed their mark by approximately 4,000 feet.

Artillery units fired approximately 1,200 shells during the live-fire exercise. After the drill was underway, a technical problem was discovered in the system that directs artillery firing range, and the commander ordered that the soldiers temporarily halt operations.

After junior officers worked on the system, they did not follow standard operating procedures and instead of waiting for permission, they proceeded to resume firing without the usual safety checks.