IDF officer's condition improves after being wounded during drill

Lt.-Col. Avichai Mor Yosef was accidentally shot in the abdomen by another commander during a live-fire drill into Wednesday night.

By ANNA AHRONHEIM
Soldiers at tank and Air Force training in the northern Negev (photo credit: DEBBIE ZIMELMAN)
Soldiers at tank and Air Force training in the northern Negev
(photo credit: DEBBIE ZIMELMAN)
The condition of the IDF officer seriously injured during a live-fire exercise held in southern Israel near Tze’elim after being shot in the abdomen by another commander has improved.
According to the IDF, the condition of Lt.-Col. Avichai Mor Yosef is now listed as moderate.
A preliminary investigation into the incident has found that Mor Yosef, who was in charge of a live-fire drill conducted with another unit, occurred after he crossed the line of fire without coordinating with the other forces and was then accidentally shot in the stomach by another officer.
The drill was being held in an area mimicking urban areas that had been recently constructed at the base and the commander who accidentally shot Mor Yosef had been inside one of the buildings.
The investigation found there was no flaw in the conduct of the officer who fired on Mor Yosef.
The drill was stopped immediately and Mor Yosef, in his 40s, was airlifted to Soroka Medical Center and hospitalized in intensive care following several hours of surgery. Soroka Medical Center reported Thursday morning that his condition improved and he regained consciousness and was capable of breathing on his own.
Military Police are investigating the incident. Commander of Training Command Maj. Moti Baruch decided to halt firearms training as a result of the incident until the investigation is complete.
The Head of the Ground Forces Maj.-Gen.Yoel Strick has ordered an expert investigation into the incident and appointed Head of the Infantry and Paratroopers Corps, Brig. Gen. Dan Goldfus to lead it.
Baruch visited Mor Yosef on Thursday accompanied by Col. Shai Siman Tov who was critically injured during Operation Protective Edge.
The IDF’s Spokesperson’s Unit said that Mor Yosef told the two officers that he is recovering from his injuries and that the “concern of his family, colleagues, and commanders strengthens him greatly” and that he hoped he could return to training soon.
Baruch said the incident would be investigated and that the IDF would learn the lessons from the investigation in order to prevent future training accidents.
"We are here with you, all the way,” he said.
Siman-Tov, who is a team commander at the Tactical Command College told Mor Yosef that he had been lying in the same hospital six years ago after being critically wounded. He was the deputy commander of the Golani’s twelfth battalion during the IDF’s last war in the Gaza Strip was critically injured during an infamous battle in Shejaiya with Hamas when a tunnel collapsed. A concrete beam hit his helmet and broke five vertebrae. He was airlifted in critical condition to Soroka Medical Center and has since been wheelchair-bound.
"Today I came to show you that despite any crisis, together, with our family and our commanders, it is possible to find the strength to recover and return contribute to the security of the State of Israel."
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.


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