It is cleared to release that a training mishap which occurred today, Monday 9 Elul 5772 led to a soldier sustaining critical injuries during a routine training event. The Golani soldier was hit in his upper body by a Merkava tank as Golani combat troops were in a training exercise with the 188th Armored Brigade.

A chopper evacuated the critically injured soldier to the trauma unit of Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center, where his condition remains life-threatening at this time.

Soldiers who witnessed the accident shouted out but the armored vehicle continued on its way, apparently unaware of what had occurred.

The Office of the IDF Spokesperson announced that all training exercises in the Golan Heights have been halted pending the outcome of the investigation into this accident.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)