In the past, Israeli forces have clashed with drug traffickers near the border with Egypt
The Israeli army announced that three Israeli soldiers were killed and others wounded by “armed” bullets near the border with Egypt.
A male and female soldier was found dead at an army military site, in the early hours of Saturday morning.
A third Israeli soldier and the “assailant”, who was said to be a member of the Egyptian security forces, were also killed later during the sweep.
The incident occurred just hours after a drug smuggling operation was thwarted at the border.
In addition to the ongoing investigation in cooperation with the Egyptian army, the Israeli army opened an investigation to clarify how the attacker managed to cross the barrier, which is several meters high along the border between the two countries, according to a military spokesman.
The Israeli army confirmed that the circumstances of the shooting and the motives of the attacker were not clear. Searches are currently underway to determine if other attackers managed to enter Israeli territory.
Richard Hecht, a spokesman for the Israeli army, said 1.6 million shekels ($400,000) of drugs were seized after a person used a ladder to cross the fence.
He added that this was presumably related to the shooting at a later date.
An army statement said: “An investigation is taking place in full cooperation with the Egyptian army.”
Later, the Egyptian army said that a member of its security forces was killed during the operation against the smugglers, but it did not say that he was the gunman.
Avichai Adraee, the military spokesman for the Israeli army, had said, earlier, that an Egyptian policeman was behind the shooting that killed three Israeli army soldiers on the border between the two countries this morning.
Adraei added that what he described as a “terrorist” was killed in the exchange of fire, and that a preliminary investigation into the attack is being conducted by the commander of the southern military region and other leaders.
The Egyptian army confirmed that one of the Egyptian security personnel in charge of securing the international border line breached the security barrier and exchanged fire while chasing drug smuggling elements.
In its statement, the Egyptian army confirmed the killing of three Israeli soldiers, and the wounding of two other Israeli soldiers, in addition to the death of the Egyptian security personnel.
The military spokesman for the Egyptian Armed Forces said on his Facebook page: “One of the security forces in charge of securing the international border line chased the drug smuggling agents. During the chase, the security personnel breached the insurance barrier and exchanged fire, which led to the death of (3) members of the Israeli security forces.” And the wounding of (2) others, in addition to the death of the Egyptian security guard during the exchange of fire.
The Egyptian statement stated that all search, inspection and insurance measures are being taken for the area, as well as taking legal measures regarding the incident.
Adraei indicated that the Israeli army forces continue combing the area to ensure that there are no other terrorists.
2023-06-03 23:03:45
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