5 Israeli Soldiers Killed by Missile During Exercise

Five Israeli soldiers were killed and six injured Thursday when they were hit by a missile during a training exercise in the southern Negev desert, the army said.

A statement issued by the army did not say what kind of missile was involved in the accident or give the circumstances.

Two of the injured were reported in serious condition at Seroka Hospital in the town of Beersheba.

It was the worst army training accident since July 17, 1990, when five soldiers were killed and 10 injured in the Negev by an artillery shell mistakenly fired at their position.

Several officers were reprimanded or removed from posts over that incident, and the army changed training safety procedures.

The army statement said the military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Ehud Barak, had appointed a committee to investigate Thursday’s incident.

Barak also ordered a halt to all firing exercises until Tuesday to allow for a review of procedures, the army said.

Israel radio said the troops belonged to an “elite infantry unit.”

The last serious training accident occurred Aug. 9, when a cable snapped while troops were undergoing a night rescue drill near the Dead Sea. Two soldiers were killed.