Israeli Army Radio
Initial investigation into the incident involving an anti-tank missile and an explosive device in the northern Gaza Strip, which resulted in the downing of an Israeli army drone and the injury of five other soldiers:
1. The incident began at 12:58 p.m. today. operatives fired an RPG at an unarmored military vehicle traveling on an administrative road (an "internal" road, behind it) in the "Sifun neighborhood" area of Beit Hanoun, opposite Nir Am and Miflasim, in the buffer zone.
2. As a result of RPG shelling, three reconnaissance fighters were seriously injured.
3. According to initial investigations, the Palestinian elements emerged from a tunnel that had been cleared by Israeli military forces last week. This tunnel is located within the buffer zone, extending from a military position in the buffer zone to the border with Israel, and was dealt with as part of the IDF's clearance and disinfection operations in the buffer zone near the fence. Yesterday, Israeli military forces placed explosive devices in that tunnel to detonate it, and it appears this is what prompted the Palestinian elements to emerge and attempt to harm our forces.
4. Shortly after the RPG was fired, a rescue force arrived, led by the commander of the Northern Brigade of the Gaza Division, Colonel A. The rescue force included the brigade commander's special forces and a scout force.
5. At 1:25 p.m., approximately half an hour after the initial RPG incident, a powerful explosive device was detonated against the scout vehicle. The explosion killed one tracker and seriously injured two others. The brigade commander was unharmed.
6. During the incident, several Air Force helicopters were dispatched to evacuate the injured to several hospitals. In total, one soldier was killed in the incident, and five others were seriously injured.
