2 Israeli soldiers killed, 24 injured in drone attack launched from Iraq, Israeli army says

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) - The Israeli army on Friday announced that two of its soldiers were killed and 24 others injured in a drone attack launched from Iraq towards northern Israel.

The army identified the two soldiers as Sgt. Daniel Aviv Haim Sofer and Cpl. Tal Dror, both of whom were serving in the army's Golani Brigade's 13th Battalion.

In the same incident, 24 other soldiers were injured including two in serious condition.

According to the army's investigation, two drones were fired from Iraq on early Thursday towards northern Israel, one of which was intercepted, while the other hit an army base in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

The army added that its air defense systems failed to detect the drone and because of that the rocket in-coming sirens were not activated.

Regional tensions have escalated due to Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 41,800 people, mostly women and children, following a Hamas attack last year.

The conflict spread to Lebanon with Israel launching deadly strikes across the country, which have killed more than 1,100 people and injured over 3,000 others since Sept. 23.

The international community has warned that Israeli attacks in Lebanon could escalate the Gaza conflict into a wider regional war.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar