From the Liveblog of
Sunday, August 25, 2024
Israeli Navy soldier killed, two hurt during Hezbollah attack on northern Israel
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
An Israeli soldier aboard a Navy vessel was killed and two others were hurt amid this morning’s Hezbollah attack on northern Israel.
The slain sailor is named as Petty Officer First Class David Moshe Ben Shitrit, 21, of the Navy’s 914th Patrol Squadron, from Geva Binyamin-Adam.
The other two soldiers are listed in moderate and light condition.
According to an initial IDF probe, the sailors on a Dvora-class patrol boat off the coast of northern Israel were hit by shrapnel from an Iron Dome interceptor missile, as at least two Hezbollah drones flew over the area.
The military is investigating the possibility that the interceptor missile was tracking one of the Hezbollah drones and then, due to unknown circumstances, swapped to target the ship and exploded directly above it. Another possibility, although considered less likely, is that the interceptor missile managed to intercept one of the drones just above the ship, but also wounded the sailors.
Footage from the incident shows an Iron Dome interceptor missile exploding adjacent to the ship. Parts of the interceptor missile were found inside the ship after the incident.
The Dvora ship is currently being repaired and will return to service by tomorrow.
