During the course of the day, 34 wounded soldiers were flown to northern area hospitals. Seven of the wounded are listed in serious condition.
The casualties were the results of four separate incidents Wednesday.
At 8:00 a.m., Wednesday, a reserve soldier was killed by mistaken IDF fire in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon. As a result of the fatal error, all gunfire was halted to permit an investigation of the event.
Three hours later, Hizbullah fighters fired an anti-tank rocket at a tank in the western sector, claiming the lives of four soldiers. Later in the day, an anti-tank rocket in the eastern sector resulted in the collapse of a building, claiming the lives of soldiers from an elite unit. During the evening hours, the 15th soldier was killed by Hizbullah mortar shells. All the families of the fallen have been notified by IDF officials.
The black day began with IDF reservists operating near the village of a-Taiybe in the eastern sector. In addition to the loss of one life, two members of the force were injured seriously and five lightly as a result of mistaken IDF fire.
Two days earlier, Nahal Brigade forces entered southern Lebanon - the 50th and 931st battalions, together with the 52nd armored battalion. They entered the eastern sector and began heading west towards Kuneitra. A group of reservists from the 226th paratrooper brigade, members of the same unit killed in the Katyusha rocket attack in Kfar Giladi in the Galilee on Sunday, headed to the same area. Members of the 226th brigade force prepared an ambush. Apparently, there was a mistake in identifying the other IDF soldiers. They were assumed to be Hizbullah gunmen and a tank shell was fired at them.
11:00 a.m. – A Tank is Destroyed
At 11:00 a.m., anti-tank rocket fire destroyed a tank in the western sector of southern Lebanon. The Merkavah-II tank sustained a direct hit, claiming the lives of the four-man crew, members of the 847th reservist tank brigade. IDF officials believe a Cornet rocket was fired at the tank from close range. The flames made approaching the tank impossible. The tank’s fire-extinguishing apparatus did not operate.
Military officials report that Hizbullah is using very modern and sophisticated anti-tank rockets.
13:30 – Anti-Tank Rocket Fire Results in Collapse of Buildings
Nine soldiers, members of an elite unit, were killed when a structure collapsed from anti-tank rocket fire. A number of soldiers were wounded from the initial fire as well as from the explosions caused by the ammunition which they were transporting - which detonated as a result of the rocket fire. Others were killed when the structure collapsed, while some members of the unit were trapped under the rubble. 20 soldiers were injured in that attack. Members of the Home Front Command’s Search & Rescue unit, who were standing by in the north, were activated.
A senior officer acknowledged the threat resulting from anti-tank rockets, adding that soldiers are undergoing special training which addresses that specific threat. The officer added that the threat is somewhat diminished during nighttime hours – explaining the terrorists are having difficulty operating in the dark.
20:00 – A Fatal Explosion in the Eastern Sector
Another soldier fell in a mortar shell attack in the village of Qaliya in the Marjaoun area, in the eastern sector. Two other combatants were moderately injured in the attack.
The casualties were the results of four separate incidents Wednesday.
At 8:00 a.m., Wednesday, a reserve soldier was killed by mistaken IDF fire in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon. As a result of the fatal error, all gunfire was halted to permit an investigation of the event.
Three hours later, Hizbullah fighters fired an anti-tank rocket at a tank in the western sector, claiming the lives of four soldiers. Later in the day, an anti-tank rocket in the eastern sector resulted in the collapse of a building, claiming the lives of soldiers from an elite unit. During the evening hours, the 15th soldier was killed by Hizbullah mortar shells. All the families of the fallen have been notified by IDF officials.
The black day began with IDF reservists operating near the village of a-Taiybe in the eastern sector. In addition to the loss of one life, two members of the force were injured seriously and five lightly as a result of mistaken IDF fire.
Two days earlier, Nahal Brigade forces entered southern Lebanon - the 50th and 931st battalions, together with the 52nd armored battalion. They entered the eastern sector and began heading west towards Kuneitra. A group of reservists from the 226th paratrooper brigade, members of the same unit killed in the Katyusha rocket attack in Kfar Giladi in the Galilee on Sunday, headed to the same area. Members of the 226th brigade force prepared an ambush. Apparently, there was a mistake in identifying the other IDF soldiers. They were assumed to be Hizbullah gunmen and a tank shell was fired at them.
11:00 a.m. – A Tank is Destroyed
At 11:00 a.m., anti-tank rocket fire destroyed a tank in the western sector of southern Lebanon. The Merkavah-II tank sustained a direct hit, claiming the lives of the four-man crew, members of the 847th reservist tank brigade. IDF officials believe a Cornet rocket was fired at the tank from close range. The flames made approaching the tank impossible. The tank’s fire-extinguishing apparatus did not operate.
Military officials report that Hizbullah is using very modern and sophisticated anti-tank rockets.
13:30 – Anti-Tank Rocket Fire Results in Collapse of Buildings
Nine soldiers, members of an elite unit, were killed when a structure collapsed from anti-tank rocket fire. A number of soldiers were wounded from the initial fire as well as from the explosions caused by the ammunition which they were transporting - which detonated as a result of the rocket fire. Others were killed when the structure collapsed, while some members of the unit were trapped under the rubble. 20 soldiers were injured in that attack. Members of the Home Front Command’s Search & Rescue unit, who were standing by in the north, were activated.
A senior officer acknowledged the threat resulting from anti-tank rockets, adding that soldiers are undergoing special training which addresses that specific threat. The officer added that the threat is somewhat diminished during nighttime hours – explaining the terrorists are having difficulty operating in the dark.
20:00 – A Fatal Explosion in the Eastern Sector
Another soldier fell in a mortar shell attack in the village of Qaliya in the Marjaoun area, in the eastern sector. Two other combatants were moderately injured in the attack.