Two IDF soldiers killed, six wounded in fighting in southern Gaza, military says

Two IDF soldiers were killed and at least six were wounded in separate incidents amid fighting in the southern Gaza Strip yesterday, the military announces.

The slain soldiers are named as:

Sgt. Yishai Elyakim Urbach, 20, of the Combat Engineering Corps’ 605th Battalion, from Zikhron Ya’akov.

Staff Sgt. Yam Frid, 21, of the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, from Sal’it.

According to an initial IDF probe of the first incident, Hamas operatives fired an RPG at a building in Rafah’s Jenina neighbourhood, where troops were stationed. The building partially collapsed on the troops, killing Urbach and wounding two others, including one seriously and one moderately.

The second incident took place some two hours later in the same area. According to the investigation, an armored personnel carrier was hit by an explosive device, killing Frid and wounding four other soldiers, including three listed in serious condition.