Soldier killed after gun accidentally goes off on base

Military police launch investigation into apparent accidental shooting; gunshot reportedly self-inflicted

Staff Sgt. Shahar Strug. (Israel Defense Forces)

An IDF soldier died Tuesday after being hit by an errant bullet fired on his base in central Israel, the army said.

Military police launched an investigation into the the circumstances of the incident, but did not release details.

The soldier was named as Sgt. Shahar Strug, 20, from Givatayim.

The Hadashot news outlet reported that the shooting occurred when the soldier, a member of the elite Duvdevan unit, was fiddling with his weapon and it accidentally went off.

Illustrative image of Israeli soldiers take part in a training drill in Baf Lachish army base in Southern Israel, December 20, 2016. (Maor Kinsbursky/Flash90)

Maj. Gen. Nadav Padan, head of the Central Command, called for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to reach conclusions from the incident.

Last July 2nd Lt. David Golovenchik was killed when his subordinate accidentally discharged his weapon and hit him during a nighttime drill.

An initial probe at the time indicated that in violation of safety protocols, soldiers neglected to clear their weapons of ammunition prior to starting the drill.

read more: