Female soldiers operate a tank in the Negev desert in an undated photograph. (Israel Defense Forces)
On June 3, two Israelis were wounded by gunfire in a “security incident” on the Egyptian border, according to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
In a brief statement, the IDF said that it had launched an investigation into the incident, which took place near the southern town of Nitzana.
“This morning there was a security incident in the Paran Regional Brigade area,” IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters. “In the incident, there were two casualties. The IDF is currently investigating the circumstances of the incident and will update further details later.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s Army Radio said two Israelis were shot while forces were operating to thwart smuggling activity in the area.
Attempts to smuggle drugs and weapons from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula over Israel’s tall border fence are reported on a regular basis.
In addition, ISIS cells in Sinai launched attacks against Israel on a few occasions in the past. Palestinian armed factions in the Gaza Strip also maintain some level of influence in the peninsula, but only to smuggle weapons bought from black markets in Egypt, Libya or Sudan.
The Egyptian military foiled an attempt to launch rockets from Sinai at Israel last April after an assault on al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem city, in which hundreds of Palestinians were arrested, according to unverified reports.
Overall, the situation on the Egyptian-Israeli border is stable. The “security incident” reported by the IDF represents an unusual escalation.
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