Seven Israeli combat engineers, ages 19-21, killed in devastating IED attack in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday when attached explosive to their armored vehicle, marking one of deadliest incidents for Israeli ground forces in recent months.
The Israeli military cleared for publication Wednesday morning the names of six after their families were notified of their deaths.
All were fighters from the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion working with the Barak Division (188). One was an officer.
The soldiers were killed when a terrorist attached an explosive device to their armored personnel carrier while they were traveling during combat operations in Khan Younis.
The vehicle was completely destroyed by fire and had to be towed into Israel with the bodies before forensic testing was carried out.
The incident occurred at 5:30pm Tuesday when the force was operating in Khan Younis. The fighters carried out an advance and attack as part of engineering operations to clear the area. According to initial reports, a terrorist attached an explosive device to the armored personnel carrier, causing it to catch fire.
Firefighters arrived at the scene and used a D-9 bulldozer that pours sand onto the APC to extinguish the blaze. They continued extinguishing the vehicle while it was being towed until it reached Israeli territory with the soldiers’ bodies. Emergency helicopters were dispatched to the location.
One soldier’s identity has not been released as the IDF completes the official notification and identification process.
The soldiers were named as follows:
Lieutenant Matan Shai Yashinovski, 21, from Kfar Yona, who served as platoon commander in the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion.
Staff Sergeant Ronel Ben-Moshe, 20, from Rehovot, fighter in the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion.
Staff sergeant Niv Radia, 20, from Eliakhin, fighter in the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion.
Sergeant Ronen Shapiro, 19, from Mazkeret Batya, fighter in the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion.
Sergeant Shahar Manoav, 21, from Ashkelon, fighter in the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion.
Sergeant Maayan Baruch Pearlstein, 20, from Aschar, fighter in the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion.
