IDF officer killed in apparent accidental explosion in southern Gaza

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Cpt. Reei Biran (Israel Defense Forces)
Cpt. Reei Biran (Israel Defense Forces)

An IDF officer was killed in an apparent accident in the southern Gaza Strip yesterday, the military announces.

The slain soldier is named as Cpt. Reei Biran, 21, a team commander in the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, from Shorashim.

According to an IDF probe, the incident took place during an ongoing offensive in Khan Younis.

Troops were operating in buildings suspected to be used by Hamas for terror activity, rigging them up with mines in order to demolish them.

Around two hours after the buildings were mined, an explosion occurred, and Biran was hit, possibly by shrapnel or debris. He was declared dead a short while later.

The IDF says the incident is under further investigation.

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