The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a report on Tuesday detailing the casualties suffered during the ground operation in Gaza. According to data provided by the IDF, a large number of Israeli casualties were caused by friendly fire and accidents.
Specifically, 20 of the 105 soldiers who died in Gaza during the ground operation were killed by the IDF itself. This means that almost 20% of the casualties were due to friendly fire. Along with the 105 casualties, a total of 582 IDF members were also injured during the operation, of which 133 were seriously injured.
Air attacks and accidents
Specifically, 13 of those 20 soldiers were killed by friendly fire in poorly targeted aerial bombardments, artillery strikes and sweeps carried out by the IDF. Three other soldiers died from unintentional shots. Two soldiers died in accidents with armored vehicles and two more died from shrapnel from explosives planted by the IDF.
According to the Times of Israel, which had access to the armed forces report, the IDF determined that the fatal accidents were due to several reasons, among which the large number of troops and assets operating in Gaza at the same time stood out, communication problems between forces and soldier fatigue.
Operations in Gaza continue
Since the end of the November truce for the exchange of hostages and prisoners, the IDF continues to advance in the Gaza Strip. Last week they approached the southern city of Khan Younis and also managed to completely surround Jabalia.
A mosque or an RPG training center?
IDF soldiers uncovered a room used for RPG training of terrorists inside a mosque in Jabalya. Nahal Brigade soldiers also found many weapons including rifles, grenades, cartridges—some of them inside UNRWA bags; all for carrying out terrorist… pic.twitter.com/lplbFulml4
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 11, 2023
As they advance, the IDF spokesperson reported that its troops are finding more and more weapons caches from Hamas terrorists, often hidden in civilian homes. The IDF shared some images of these seizures in Jabalia.
New Houthi attacks
Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for new drone and long-range missile attacks across the Red Sea.
The last of these targeted a Norwegian-flagged freighter. The French Armed Forces broke the news after shooting down a kamikaze drone that was heading towards the commercial ship.
Interception dans la soirée de deux drones en provenance du Yémen par la FREMM Languedoc en mer Rouge. pic.twitter.com/2cug1Sn48C
— Armée française - Opérations militaires (@EtatMajorFR) December 9, 2023
According to the Houthis, which AFP echoed in a statement, the Norwegian cargo ship was heading towards Israel, which is why it was attacked in the Red Sea.
