Soldier seriously hurt by grenade blast during drill

IDF investigating to determine if it was a training accident, malfunction, or deliberate act

Judah Ari Gross is The Times of Israel's religions and Diaspora affairs correspondent.

IDF soldiers take part in a training exercise on October 26, 2010. (Michal Shvadron/IDF spokesperson/Flash90)
IDF soldiers take part in a training exercise on October 26, 2010. (Michal Shvadron/IDF spokesperson/Flash90)

An IDF soldier was seriously injured in a hand grenade explosion during a training exercise in southern Israel on Friday, the army said.

He was sent to a nearby hospital for further treatment.

The army said the Military Police have launched an investigation to determine if the explosion was an accident, a weapon malfunction or a deliberate act.

The head of IDF Ground Forces, Maj. Gen. Kobi Barak, halted the use of grenades for training purposes until an initial investigation of the incident is completed.

Barak also put together a team to look into the case, which will be led by Col. Shuki Ribak, who is the head of the Ground Forces’ Infantry and Paratroopers Doctrine department.

Details surrounding the grenade explosion were initially placed under military censor, until representatives from the army could inform the soldier’s family.

Last month, another Israeli soldier was injured in a training accident. According to the army, the soldier was shot during a military exercise.

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