The Israeli military has confirmed the death of two soldiers and the injury of seven others following a helicopter crash late Tuesday night near Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.
According to initial investigations, the incident was not caused by enemy fire.
The military stated that the soldiers died as a result of the crash, while the injured were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The Israeli Air Force launched a preliminary investigation revealing that the helicopter was en route to Rafah with a medical team from the elite Unit 669.
The team was dispatched around 11:30 p.m. to evacuate a combat engineer who had been critically injured during ongoing fighting in the area.
During the final descent to an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) base in Rafah, the helicopter made contact with the ground improperly, leading to the crash.
The investigation indicated that the crash occurred moments before the helicopter’s planned landing, suggesting that it was not a high-altitude fall.
All personnel aboard the aircraft were affected, with two soldiers tragically losing their lives and seven others sustaining injuries. Four of the injured soldiers are reported to be in serious condition.
