IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot has dismissed from duty Liet. Col. Tal David, the commander of the IDF's Armored Corps, his deputy, and four additional officers following the disaster earlier this month at Tze'elim Base.
The base in southern Israel is home to the Urban Warfare Training Center which was erected in 2005.
First Lieutenant Yishai Rozales of the Netzah Yehuda battalion was killed in the accident three weeks ago and another soldier was moderately injured, when a mortar shell exploded near them.
The decision to remove the leadership of the Armored Corps was made following a commission of inquiry's findings that the accident was caused by the officers' lack of professionalism.
An investigation into the incident revealed that the mortar team, which was practicing for an upcoming divisional exercise, had intended to shoot in a certain direction, but then abruptly changed direction during the shooting.
As a result, one of the shells landed near where Rozales, 23, was standing; its subsequent explosion caused his death.
The Chief of Staff declared the accident the result of a combination of officers' negligence and a serious security and professional malfunction. As stated, six senior officers were dismissed and an account of the incident was placed in their military files.