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An Israeli soldier was killed and another three wounded after a grenade accidentally exploded at a military training base in the Jordan Valley, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on January 15.
The army said in a statement that the incident took place around midnight between January 14 and 15 in the living quarters of the 900th “Kfir” Brigade training base near the settlement of Ro’i.
According to an initial probe, one soldier brought a grenade he found during an exercise back to the base and kept it in his bag where it later exploded. It was unclear what exactly had set off the grenade, but the probe suggested it may have happened after the bag was moved.
The soldier killed in the incident was identified as 18-year-old Denis Zinoviev, a new recruit from the central city of Petah Tikvah.
One of the three other soldiers who were hospitalized after the incident was listed in serious condition. The remaining two were described as having minor injuries from the grenade blast.
The Kfir is the youngest and largest infantry brigade of the IDF. It is subordinate to the 340th “Idan” Armoured Division of Israel’s Central Regional Command.
Military Police launched an investigation into the deadly incident. In addition, the chief of the IDF Ground Forces, Major General Tamir Yadai, ordered the establishment of a panel of experts to investigate the circumstances of the incident.
Exercises at the training base in the Jordan Valley were halted while the IDF searches for more unexploded ordnance there.
Earlier this month, an Israeli soldier was killed at a military base near Jerusalem due to a suspected accidental discharge from a comrade’s weapon. The IDF lost six soldiers to similar incidents last year.
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