What happened: Three IDF combat soldiers were killed on Saturday in the Negev by an Egyptian border policeman.
- The Egyptian assailant reportedly entered Israeli territory through an emergency crossing in the border fence. He subsequently killed two IDF soldiers, Sergeant 19 year old Lia Ben Nun and 20 year old Staff Sgt. Ori Yitzhak Iluz, who were manning a position along the border. Several hours later as the IDF closed in on him, he killed a third Israeli soldier Staff Sgt. Ohad Dahan, 20, before being shot dead himself.
- An Egyptian statement said that a member of the security forces had crossed the border while “chasing drug smugglers” during which he crossed into Israel “and a gun battle ensued”. Israel rejected Egypt’s claim. The IDF believes the terrorist acted out of religious motives because a copy of the Quran was found in his possession, as well as two combat knives, food, and six magazines for his assault rifle.
- Egyptian authorities passed a message to Israel in which they described the assailant as a rogue officer, adding that Cairo does not want the incident to damage relations between the two countries.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu described the incident as serious and unusual, and vowed that it would be thoroughly investigated. In a phone conversation, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told his Egyptian counterpart, Mohamed Zaki that he appreciated Egypt’s commitment to carry out a joint investigation of the incident, adding that the Israel-Egypt relationship was very important to both countries and added that it was imperative to make sure that the good security relationship between the countries remained unharmed. The Egyptian military said the conversation focused on “mutual coordination to take measures to prevent such incidents in the future.”
Context: The three Israeli soldiers killed on Saturday served in the mixed-gender light infantry Bardelas and Caracal battalions whose task is to guard the border.
- While few casualties have occurred along the Israel-Egypt border in recent years, the area is considered a key route for drug smugglers which the IDF actively tries to prevent and the incident took place after a large smuggling operation was thwarted not far from the site of the attack. IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi described the area as one in which operational activities are carried out every night.
- During 2022, approximately 800 “operational incidents” occurred on Israel’s borders, a nearly 100 percent increase over 2021. In the course of this activity, about five tons of drugs were seized, valued at some 200 million shekels (£43 million) with an estimated 10-15 tons of drugs, valued at least one billion shekels (£216 million), making its way into Israel.
- This is the second time an Israeli border has been breached undetected within three months. In March, a terrorist infiltrated Israel from Lebanon, made his way almost 45 miles into Israel and detonated a bomb at Megiddo junction.
- Sinai-based terrorists carried out multiple attacks against Israel in 2011 and 2012. In one multi-staged attack in August 2011, six Israeli civilians, an IDF soldier, and a counter-terrorism police officer were killed, as well as five Egyptian soldiers.
Looking ahead: The IDF is now investigating what operational mistakes were made and what lessons can be learned.
- The IDF reported that Maj. Gen. Nimrod Aloni, who is due to assume the position of head of the IDF’s Depth Corps and Military Colleges, will head a team that will investigate the “systemic” failures that contributed to the deadly attack. According to the statement, the team will “examine the operational and systemic perception of defence of peaceful borders”.
- The chief of the IDF’s Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Eliezer Toledano, and the commander of the 80th Division, Brig. Gen. Itzik Cohen, will probe the troops’ conduct during the attack.
- Key questions include why a radio check wasn’t held every hour with the troops on the ground, whether the IAF could and should have arrived before it did, and whether the division commander’s decision to move in even without air support in order to prevent any attacks on civilians was the correct decision, or whether he should have waited and isolated the terrorist until the helicopter gunships’ arrival.
