7 IDF soldiers killed in major Khan Yunis incident after explosive device hits armored vehicle
The soldiers were killed by the detonation of an explosive device planted on a POM-16 armored personnel carrier
A major tragedy unfolded early Wednesday in the southern Gaza Strip, as seven Israeli soldiers were killed when an explosive device detonated on an armored vehicle during an IDF operation in Khan Yunis.
The incident, which the military is calling one of the deadliest in recent months, involved soldiers from the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion, part of the 188th ‘Barak’ Formation.
According to the IDF, during an offensive in the core of Khan Yunis, a terrorist approached a Puma armored personnel carrier (APC) carrying seven engineering fighters.
The terrorist attached an explosive device to the vehicle and fled the scene. The bomb exploded, setting the APC ablaze. There were no survivors.
Due to the intensity of the fire, rescue forces were unable to reach the trapped soldiers. In a rare maneuver, the army deployed a D9 bulldozer to the scene. The bulldozer covered the burning APC with sand and dragged it to safer ground, while a firetruck was dispatched to extinguish the flames.
All seven IDF fighters on board perished.
As of this morning, the IDF has released the names of of the fallen soldiers whose families have been notified:
Lieutenant Matan Shai Yashinovski, aged 21, from Kfar Yona
Staff Sergeant Ronel Ben-Moshe, aged 20, from Rehovot
Staff Sergeant Niv Radia, aged 20, from Elyakhin
Sergeant Ronen Shapiro, aged 19, from Mazkeret Batya
Sergeant Shahar Manoav, aged 21, from Ashkelon
Sergeant Maayan Baruch Pearlstein, aged 20, from Eshhar
Sergeant Alon Davidov, aged 21, from Kiryat Yam
In a separate incident nearby, a bulldozer operating in the area came under anti-tank fire. One soldier was seriously injured and another slightly wounded. Both were evacuated to the hospital, and their families have been notified.