Two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reservists were killed Thursday in the northern Gaza Strip when a drone they were operating crashed inside a military post and later exploded for reasons that remain under investigation, the IDF reported.
The IDF Spokesperson on Friday morning cleared for publication the deaths of Sgt. Maj. (res.) Nadav Kali, 24, from Har Halutz, and Sgt. Maj. (res.) Ofek Moalem, 23, from Jerusalem. Both were evacuated to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, where they were pronounced dead.
Kali and Moalem served in Battalion 7007 of the 16th Brigade and were operating the drone in northern Gaza as part of an IDF operation.
Their first flight with the drone was completed successfully. During a second flight, however, the aircraft crashed inside an IDF post for reasons that have not yet been determined.
After the crash, the two reservists approached the drone to examine it at close range. The drone then exploded, killing the two soldiers.
IDF officials are investigating what caused the drone to crash and subsequently explode. The circumstances surrounding the incident have not yet been established.
Pending the findings of the initial investigation, the IDF has suspended drone operations.
