IDF said to be probing suspected looting by reserve battalion commander in Lebanon

The IDF is investigating a suspected looting incident involving a reserve battalion commander with the rank of lieutenant colonel, after troops allegedly took a generator from southern Lebanon and brought it back to Israel, according to the Kan public broadcaster.

Kan reports that information recently reached the officer’s commanders alleging that the battalion commander, another officer and several soldiers loaded the generator onto their jeep while operating in Lebanon and drove it back into Israeli territory.

According to the report, the incident came to light after soldiers informed their commanders, who then instructed the battalion commander to return the generator to the location from which it had been taken.

Responding to the report, the IDF says the incident was carried out “without authorization and in violation of mandatory procedures,” adding that the military “views any deviation from the orders and norms expected of its soldiers with great severity and acts accordingly.”

The incident comes less than a month after IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned senior commanders that incidents of looting by troops “stain the entire IDF.”