Photo: Depositphotos
The Israeli army has temporarily suspended the operation of F-16I combat aircraft after an incident that occurred during a combat mission in the south of the country. According to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), a 300-kilogram bomb fell near Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, did not explode, but created a large crater in agricultural land, Israeli media reported.
The incident occurred as part of an operation in the Gaza Strip. Preliminary investigations point to a technical malfunction of the weapon drop system as the main cause of the incident. According to the military, the crew’s actions did not cause the incident, and it was a malfunction of the equipment.
The bomb was not activated, but its fall caused a significant acoustic effect and the formation of a sinkhole. Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak confirmed that there were no casualties or injuries, and that the damage did not affect the infrastructure of the settlement. The community leadership is in constant contact with the military and is awaiting the results of a full technical analysis.
The IDF said that F-16 flights will resume only after the investigation is completed and the safety of the equipment is confirmed. At the same time, other units continue to participate in combat operations against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip.
