Two Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza after military drone explodes PHOTO

Two Israeli soldiers were killed in the Gaza Strip following the explosion of an Israeli military drone, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

The soldiers, Sergeants Nadav Kali and Ofek Moalem, served with the IDF’s 16th Infantry Brigade. The military said they were killed in a “serious security incident” in the Gaza combat zone the previous day.

According to Israeli state broadcaster Kan, the soldiers were killed when an Israeli drone carrying explosives malfunctioned for unknown reasons and crashed near an Israeli military position.

Soldiers approached the crashed drone, which then exploded, Kan reported.

The military’s initial assessment found no indication that the incident was caused by jamming or enemy electronic warfare measures, according to the broadcaster.

The IDF has suspended the use of drones in Gaza for two days while it investigates the incident, Kan reported.

Following the incident, IDF Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir ordered the establishment of a task force to determine the circumstances surrounding the explosion and identify measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

By Sabina Mammadli