2 IDF soldiers killed, 3 wounded in accident

Two IDF soldiers were killed and three others were wounded when a grenade exploded in an accident in the Golan Heights on Israel’s border with Syria on Sunday.

An initial investigation indicates that a hand-grenade went off at their post on Mount Hermon, causing the casualties. It is yet unclear what caused the grenade to go off.

The IDF named the casualties as Sgt. Shlomo Rindenow, 20, of New Jersey, a member of the Combat Engineers Corps, and Staff Sgt. Hussam Tappash, 24, from Beit Jan and a member of the Druze community.

Their families have been notified.

The three wounded soldiers, one suffering from moderate wounds and the two others form light injuries, were evacuated to Rambam hospital in Haifa by helicopter.

Major-General Aviv Cochavi, head of the IDF’s Northern Command, appointed a panel to investigate the incident.

A senior officer involved in the investigation told Israel’s NRG news that the circumstances of the incident were very odd.

One of the soldiers, the driver, got out of his jeep while holding the grenade and walked to the front of the vehicle. “We don’t’ know why he was holding a grenade. A driver does not have a grenade in his possession, only combat soldiers. This story needs further examining.”

“The group stopped and has some sort of discussion about the grenade. It is unclear what was said there. Then the explosion happened,” he added.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

AccidentGolan HeightsIDFKochavi