A commander and a sergeant from an IDF Duvdeban commando brigade team were dismissed from their positions following a friendly fire incident in Nablus, as announced by an IDF spokesperson on Wednesday.
According to a report from N12, the Duvdeban unit was conducting operations to arrest wanted terror suspects in the West Bank when they mistakenly identified another IDF commando team as an enemy group and opened fire.
The IDF revealed that the confusion among the unit teams was due to a navigational error that placed them in overlapping territory, setting them up to unexpectedly cross paths during operations.
Fortunately, the IDF assured that no one was injured during the incident.
As a result of the event, the team commander and sergeant involved, who acted beyond the rules of engagement, will be dismissed. Additionally, the unit's deputy commander and others will receive command remarks.
Investigation findings, arrest of terror suspects
An IDF spokesperson stated, "After the incident, which was reported in real time, an immediate investigation was conducted on the ground and through the command channels, until it was presented to the Central Command leader, Major General Avi Bluth. The investigation examined the quality of the planning and execution of the operation, as well as the management of the activity."
The IDF also clarified in its statements that the investigation revealed that at no point were the fighters identified as the enemy "within the line of fire," and that "no additional attack measures were implemented beyond the fire directed at the area of the building."
Despite the friendly fire incident, the two terror suspects targeted in the operation were arrested and taken into custody, N12 reported.