An IDF investigation into the shooting deaths of two soldiers by Hizbullah terrorists has led to the dismissal of the communications officer and the commander of the Shahaf (Seagull) Battalion. Investigators concluded that in addition to removing the officers from their posts, a division officer will face disciplinary charges and Brig.-Gen. Yair Golan, head of Galilee Division, will receive a reprimand in his personal file. The results of the IDF investigation were released yesterday afternoon.
On July 20, Sgt. Itai Iluz and Sgt. Avishai Kuriski were killed by Hizbullah fire while they were repairing an antenna on the roof of the Nurit outpost, in the western sector of Israel's border with Lebanon. Investigators concluded that the soldiers should not have been permitted onto the roof with the high terror alert at the time, adding that the fatal incident could have and should have been avoided. In addition, the soldiers stationed at the gate of the base failed to inform their commanders of the technicians' entry or presence.
The investigation further revealed that more than an hour passed between the time the two soldiers were shot and the moment their bodies were discovered by soldiers stationed at the base. Only 40 minutes after the shots were fired did the search for the missing technicians begin, and only half-an-hour later soldiers went up onto the roof of the outpost.
IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Moshe Yaalon called the incident "serious and severe," saying that there was a failure in dispatching the soldiers for the mission, in oversight and in control at the time of the operation.
Brig.-Gen. Golan personally delivered the IDF report on the incident to the family of Sgt. Iluz yesterday afternoon. Itai's father said that he does not hold the Division commander responsible for the incident: "It was a series of errors that could have been cut short at any stage."
On July 20, Sgt. Itai Iluz and Sgt. Avishai Kuriski were killed by Hizbullah fire while they were repairing an antenna on the roof of the Nurit outpost, in the western sector of Israel's border with Lebanon. Investigators concluded that the soldiers should not have been permitted onto the roof with the high terror alert at the time, adding that the fatal incident could have and should have been avoided. In addition, the soldiers stationed at the gate of the base failed to inform their commanders of the technicians' entry or presence.
The investigation further revealed that more than an hour passed between the time the two soldiers were shot and the moment their bodies were discovered by soldiers stationed at the base. Only 40 minutes after the shots were fired did the search for the missing technicians begin, and only half-an-hour later soldiers went up onto the roof of the outpost.
IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Moshe Yaalon called the incident "serious and severe," saying that there was a failure in dispatching the soldiers for the mission, in oversight and in control at the time of the operation.
Brig.-Gen. Golan personally delivered the IDF report on the incident to the family of Sgt. Iluz yesterday afternoon. Itai's father said that he does not hold the Division commander responsible for the incident: "It was a series of errors that could have been cut short at any stage."